Can Miami tie the series to avoid a 3-1 score?
As Game 4 of the 2024 NBA Playoffs begins between the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat, Boston knows its success depends on its defensive play. In the previous matchup, the Celtics showed their willingness to fight for every ball, which allowed them to take a 2-1 series lead against the Heat.
Led by Jayson Tatum and Derrick White, the Celts closed down space, allowing the Heat to score only 84 points. In the previous game, Tyler Herro and Caleb Martin proved to be serious threats from distance, but the Celtics decided to limit their opportunities and force them to take difficult shots.
Miami is still missing Jimmy Butler and Terry Rozier, but the Celtics can’t get complacent in the playoffs.
Forecast for the match Miami Heat – Boston Celtics
In the last 10 meetings between these teams, the Celtics have won 8 matches. In the last game, the Celtics won with a score of 104-84, and the main scorers were Jayson Tatum and Jaylan Brown with 22 points each, and Kristaps Porzingis scored 18. For the Miami Heat, Bam Adebayo scored 20 points, and Nikola Jokic and Tyler Herro scored 15 each.
Of course, here we see a 100% advantage for the Celtics. What do the odds of all bookmakers in Ukraine show?
Bookmakers’ bets on NBA matches on victory (including overtime):
| Bookmakers | Miami victory | Celtics win |
| FavBet | 4.90 | 1.20 |
| GGBet | 4.92 | 1.18 |
| VBet | 4.50 | 1.17 |
Miami Heat Team Overview
The decision to let Bam Adebayo guard Jayson Tatum seemed great at first, but it turned out to be short-term. The result of the last game showed that this was just an initial strategy for which Tatum had no answer. In Game 3, the Celtics managed to solve this situation with excellent ball movement, using pick-and-roll and pick-and-pop play where Tatum was often with another player.
The Miami Heat had problems with the Boston Celtics’ new defense, especially Tyler Herro, who had to quickly get rid of the ball due to double-team attacks during the game. As a result, the Miami Heat lost his assists, having 14 in the second game compared to two in the previous game. Additionally, the home team had a poor defensive performance, allowing an incredible 62% of two-point shots to the Boston Celtics.
Considering they’re still without Jimmy Butler, it’s clear Erik Spoelstra needs to come up with a new strategy. Bam Adebayo is a good idea, but they need to find alternative offensive solutions. We recommend betting on the Miami Heat with caution.
The Miami Heat roster for 4/30 will look like this:
- Bam Adebayo
- Caleb Martin
- Delon Wright
- Duncan Robinson
- Heywood Highsmith
- Jaime Jaques Junior
- Kevin Love
- Nikola Jokic
- Orlando Robinson
- Petty Mills
- Thomas Bryant
- Tyler Herro
Boston Celtics Team Brief
The Boston Celtics seemed to have some issues with their approach in Game 2, along with the aforementioned strategy with Bam Adebayo. Both in defense and in attack, they did not show their best side, but they improved in the next match. It was obvious from the start of this game that they were taking it very seriously, and the idea of double capping Tyler Herro turned out to be a great one, as it eliminated the Heat’s biggest threat.
Taking advantage of the fact that Bam Adebayo had to get out of the box due to Jayson Tatum’s defense, they constantly attacked the same zone, often finishing with points close to the rim. The fact that they were able to win by 20 points despite shooting just 29% from three-point range speaks for itself.
It’s clear that the Celts are the better team in this series, so betting on the Boston Celtics is more likely to work out, but to make a strong case, they shouldn’t underestimate their opponent. The Miami Heat have shown over the years how dangerous they can be when underestimated, which the Boston Celtics felt in Game 2. Therefore, it will be necessary for them to play disciplined basketball from the first to the last minute, both in attack and defense, with a clear understanding of what needs to be done.
Boston Celtics players for the match:
- Al Horford
- Derrick White
- Jaylan Brown
- Jayson Tatum
- Jrue Holiday
- Kristaps Porzingis
- Luke Cornet
- Oshey Brissett
- Peyton Pritchard
- Sam Houser
- Svyat Mikhailyuk (Ukrainian)
Comparison of Miami Heat and Boston Celtics player statistics
- Points Scored (PTS): Boston Celtics players score more points on average. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are averaging 24.3 and 24.0 points per game, respectively. The Miami Heat’s leading scorer is Bam Adebayo with an average of 21.7 points per game.
- Field goal percentage (FG%) and three-point percentage (3P%): Derrick White of the Boston Celtics has the highest field goal percentage (56.3%), while Delon Wright of the Miami Heat has the best three-point percentage (3-point shooting percentage). 75.0%), but he only played in 2 games.
- Rebounds (REB): The Boston Celtics and Miami Heat are similar in total rebounds, but the Miami Heat have the best offensive rebounds (OREB), with Bam Adebayo averaging 2.3.
- Assists (AST): Tyler Herro of the Miami Heat averages 6.7 assists per game, which is higher than any Boston Celtics player.
- Turnovers (TOV) and Blocked Shots (BLK): Boston Celtics players have more turnovers, but also more blocked shots. Kristaps Porzingis averages 2 blocks per game.
- Efficiency (+/-): The efficiency indicator tells how the score changes when a player is on the court. Al Horford of the Boston Celtics has one of the highest ratings (+8.3), while Nikola Jokic of the Miami Heat has one of the lowest ratings (-9.3).
Statistics of previous Play-Off matches
| Match | Result | Series status |
| Game 1 | 94 – 114 | BOS forward 1-0 |
| Game 2 | 111 – 101 | MIA leveled 1-1 |
| Game 3 | 104 – 84 | BOS forward 2-1 |
Predictions for the NBA match Miami Heat – Boston Celtics 30.04 from SportArena
We are confident that the Boston Celtics will come out of this game calmly, taking a 3-1 series lead. The only thing that can hinder them is playing in a place other than their own, since it has always been easier to play at home in T.D. Garden. However, this season the team is stable, has depth and is capable of outplaying Miami both offensively and defensively.
In Miami, unfortunately, key players such as Jimmy Buttler and Terry Rozier are injured.
As for the total, we expect a slow game with an emphasis on defense, where teams will play carefully without forcing points. Therefore, we recommend paying attention to the total (m) indicators.
As for bets, the safest betting options for the Boston – Miami match are:
- Under (205.5) at odds 1.78
- Over (20.5) for Jaylen Brown at odds of 1.85
- The handicap on the Miami Heat is +13 at odds of 1.55, since Miami can even force a fight.
Overall, in this Miami-Boston game, it is better not to bet on the victory or the team’s form, but rather focus on the total or individual achievements of the players.
Where can I watch the Miami Heat vs Boston live stream?
Ukrainian broadcasts of NBA matches with commentary from Setanta Sports can be watched on Kyivstar TV or on the MEGOGO platform. Both platforms offer free monthly subscriptions for new users, but if you have already taken advantage of the trial period, you will be required to sign up for a paid plan.
It is also possible to watch the Miami-Boston match on the official NBA website with a subscription, but the comments there will be in English.
If you missed the match live, you can watch the match recording on Kyivstar TV. You can also watch short highlights of matches on the official NBA YouTube channel.
Responsible gaming
Responsible gambling in betting involves a number of important aspects. Firstly, it is an awareness of the risks associated with betting and the ability to control your finances. Players should only bet money they can afford to lose and avoid increasing bets after losses.
Secondly, responsible gambling involves analyzing information and making informed bets based on objective facts. Players must stick to strategy without making hasty or emotionally driven decisions.
Source: Sportarena
My name is Adam Jackson and I am an author. I have been writing about Basketball games for over a decade now and am excited to share my knowledge with you all. Additionally, I am also interested in other sports and enjoy discussing them with others. Contact me if you want to discuss any Basketball-related topics!
