Oddsmakers thought NBA bettors would be discussing Game 1 of the NBA Finals this weekend, but Jimmy Butler had other ideas. The Miami star poured in 47 points, and the Heat stayed alive as big underdogs at Boston to force Game 7 in the Eastern Conference finals.
Boston, the No. 2 seed in the East, is still -140 at DraftKings to win Game 7 on the road against No. 1 Miami (+120) and advance to take on the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals.
Props.com dives into NBA playoff odds for Celtics vs. Heat Game 7. Check back for updates through Sunday’s tipoff.
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NBA Playoff Odds and Betting Action
No. 2 Boston Celtics vs No. 1 Miami Heat (8:30 p.m. ET)
UPDATE 6:30 P.M. ET SUNDAY: The Celtics opened as 2-point favorites at TwinSpires, then went to -2.5 and now -3, with 58% of bets on the Heat but 69% of money on Boston. The total opened at 198.5 and has dropped to 197, with 71% of bets on the Over but 56% of money on the Under.
Zachary Lucas, director of retail sports, said the book took sharp money on the Celtics and Under.
Meanwhile, Caesars Sportsbook reported that a bettor in Louisiana placed a $550,000 wager to win $500,000 on the Heat +3.
UPDATE 2:15 P.M. ET SUNDAY: The Celtics sit as consensus 3-point favorites about six hours from tipoff. Caesars Sportsbook has Boston juiced to -3 (-115), and WynnBet is at -3 (-112). BetMGM is still dealing -2.5 (-115).
The consensus moneyline is Celtics -150/Heat +130. WynnBet is on the high side at -165/+135.
The consensus total is 197, with BetMGM dealing 197.5 and WynnBet shading lower at 196.5.
UPDATE 3 P.M. ET SATURDAY: Thanks mainly to Butler’s heroics, the Heat prevailed 111-103 in Boston in Game 6 to even the series at 3, cashing as 9-point underdogs and +320 on the moneyline. The game went Over 202.5.
The Celtics trailed for most of the game but took a 97-94 lead with under five minutes left – the first time the lead changed hands in the fourth quarter of a game in this series. However, Boston’s Jaylen Brown missed two free throws with the game tied at 99, and the Heat scored the next six points and closed out the victory.
The Heat improved to 12-4 ATS in their past 16 games in Boston and broke out of a 2-7 rut as a playoff underdog. Miami was 6-0 SU and 5-1 ATS at home in the first two rounds of the playoffs, but the Heat are 1-2 SU and ATS at home in this series. Game 5 was the first time Miami was a home underdog, and the Celtics rolled to the cover as 3.5-point favorites in a 93-80 victory.
Boston is 6-2 SU and 6-1-1 ATS on the road in the playoffs, and the Celtics are 20-9-1 ATS in their last 30 games overall and 9-4 in their last 13 when playing on one day’s rest.
The Celtics are 5-4 SU and ATS against Miami this season.
Game 6 improved the Over to 4-2 in this series after two straight Unders. The Over is 11-5 in the last 16 Heat-Celtics games and 8-2 in Boston’s last nine conference finals games.
Injury Report
Miami shooting guard Tyler Herro (groin) has not played since Game 3, and he’s questionable for Game 6. Several other Heat players have battled injuries during this series – Butler (knee), point guards Kyle Lowry (hamstring) and Max Strus (hamstring) and forward P.J. Tucker (knee) – but they all played in Game 6 and are likely to play in Game 7.
Likewise, Boston’s Marcus Smart (sprained right ankle) and Robert Williams III (knee) have been hurting during this series, but they played in Game 6 and are not on the injury report.
Celtics vs Heat Opening Odds & Action
The Celtics opened as 1.5-point road favorites for Game 7 at DraftKings and have risen to -2.5, with 70% of early bets and 82% of money on Boston. The moneyline opened at Celtics -120/Heat +100 and reached as high as -145/+125 before ticking back to -140/+120, with 54% of bets on Miami but 59% of money on Boston.
The total opened at 199 and has plummeted to 196, despite 87% of early bets and 83% of money on the Over.
Check back for additional Celtics vs Heat odds and betting action.
