The Boston Celtics visit the Miami Heat at Kaseya Center on Monday night. Boston enters the game with a 37-16 record, good for second place in the Eastern Conference. Miami is 25-25 and sits in seventh place. The Celtics won the first meeting between the teams this season, beating the Heat 108-89 on December 2.
Boston has been strong on the road, winning 21 of 27 games away from home. The team comes into this matchup on a five-game road winning streak. Miami has recently made changes to its roster, trading Jimmy Butler and bringing in Andrew Wiggins, Davion Mitchell, and Kyle Anderson.
Heat Preview – Adjusting to New Faces
The Heat made a major roster move last week, sending Jimmy Butler to Golden State in exchange for three players. Wiggins, Mitchell, and Anderson are all expected to play their first game with Miami in this matchup. Wiggins has averaged 17.6 points per game this season, while Mitchell and Anderson bring defensive help.
Bam Adebayo remains the key player for Miami, averaging 18 points and eight rebounds per game. Tyler Herro leads the team in scoring with 15 points per game but has struggled with efficiency. Miami’s offense ranks in the middle of the league, while its defense has been solid, allowing 110.6 points per game.
Miami has lost four of its last six games, including a 106-104 loss to the Charlotte Hornets last time out. The team will look for a boost from its new additions to improve its home record, which currently stands at 12-10. Injuries to Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Nikola Jović could also impact Miami’s rotation.
Celtics Preview – Road Warriors
Boston has been dominant on the road, winning five straight away games, including recent victories over Cleveland, Philadelphia, and New York. Jayson Tatum is coming off a 40-point performance against the Knicks. The Celtics were without Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday in that game but still won by 27 points.
Payton Pritchard has stepped up recently, scoring 25 points in the win over New York. Luke Kornet filled in for Porzingis and posted a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Boston’s depth has been a major strength, helping them remain competitive despite injuries.
The Celtics have the sixth-best offense in the league, averaging 117.5 points per game. They also shoot the most three-pointers per game, making 17.8 per contest. Boston’s defense ranks seventh, giving up 110.6 points per game.
Betting Prediction
The Celtics are favored by 5.5 points, with a total set at 219.5. Boston has covered the spread in six of the last 10 meetings between these teams. The Celtics have also hit the under in 24 of their last 36 road games.
Miami is still adjusting to its new lineup and may struggle to keep up with Boston’s high-powered offense. The Celtics’ depth gives them an advantage, even if Porzingis and Holiday remain out. Expect Boston to win and cover the spread.
Pick: Boston Celtics -5.5 over the Miami Heat on Monday.
