The Boston Celtics will attempt to keep their season alive in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Miami Heat on Thursday night, and I have three bets I love in this matchup.
We're focusing on the stars in this game, with plus-money props for Jimmy Butler and Jaylen Brown. Plus, I may be going down with the ship in Boston with another spread bet.
Let's break down each pick:
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- NBA best bets record for 2022-23 season: 343-303-4 (+9.9043 units)
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- Jimmy Butler OVER 7.5 Rebounds (+110)
- Jaylen Brown UNDER 22.5 Points (+110)
- Boston Celtics -8 (-110) vs. Miami Heat
Jimmy Butler OVER 7.5 Rebounds (+110)
This is a surprising line for Butler given how important he has been on the glass in this series.
The Heat star has racked up five, eight, eight and nine rebounds through four games against Boston, yet he's at plus money to clear 7.5 boards for the fourth straight game.
If the Heat are trailing or in a close game, Butler is going to push 40+ minutes, so he should get plenty of chances to grab rebounds on both ends. This may be my favorite value on the board in Game 5.
Jaylen Brown UNDER 22.5 Points (+110)
Jaylen Brown has yet to find his shot in this series, falling short of this number for the fourth time in as many games.
Since the end of the first round, Brown has not scored the ball at a high clip, averaging 20.6 points per game and shooting just 30.6 percent from beyond the arc.
The Celtics star has shot just 39.0 percent from the field against Miami, so I'll gladly fade him until he shows he can clear this number against the Heat defense.
Boston Celtics -8 (-110) vs. Miami Heat
The Celtics won Game 4 on the road by 17 points, giving them a sixth win over the Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals by 11 or more points in the last four seasons.
When Boston wins, it wins big, and I expect the Celtics to get this series back to Miami.
The Heat saw some of their role players come back to earth in Game 4, as Kyle Lowry, Gabe Vincent, Duncan Robinson and Max Strus made just three shots from beyond the arc combined.
Butler (9-for-21) wasn't as efficient as he usually is, and it's a credit to the Boston defense. With their backs against the wall, I think the Celtics pick up a convincing home win and make this series a lot more interesting heading back to Miami.
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Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
