Heat favorites in Game 4 against Celtics

The Miami Heat can punch their ticket to the NBA Finals on Tuesday night if they can defeat the Boston Celtics and complete the sweep of the Eastern Conference Finals.

At the Bovada Sportsbook the Heat are 1.5-point favorites for Game 4 on Tuesday night. Despite taking the first three games of the series this is the first time in the series that the Heat have been the favorite. They took a commanding 3-0 series lead on Sunday night with a 128-102 win as 4.5-point home underdogs. Gabe Vincent led Miami with 29 points in the win and Jimmy Butler delivered his usual strong line with 16 points, eight rebounds, and six assists.

With the win in Game 3 Miami has won four in a row straight up and three straight against the spread. Their overall record during their playoff run is 11-3 SU and ATS. They’ve been unbeatable at home recently with seven straight wins and a 6-1 ATS record. Six of those wins have come in the playoffs.

Boston obviously has dropped three straight both SU and ATS, and in their last seven games they’re a disappointing 2-5 SU and ATS. Through the playoffs the Celtics have an even 8-8 record SU and ATS. On the road the Celtics are 4-3 SU and ATS in their last seven.

Celtics have performed well as underdog

This is the first time during these playoffs that Boston has been listed as the underdog. Going back further the Celtics have won six straight ATS as an underdog and this season they were 8-1 ATS when listed as the underdog.

Heading into Game 4 the Heat have won five straight against the Celtics both SU and ATS. This season, including the playoffs, Miami is 5-2 SU and ATS against Boston.

For totals bettors all three games of this series have gone OVER the posted total. Both sides have trended toward the OVER throughout the playoffs with Miami going 11-3 OVER and Boston going 12-5 OVER. In the seven matchups between the Heat and Celtics this season the OVER is 5-2.

If you think the Celtics can do the near-impossible and come back to win this series the current series odds list Boston as a +650 underdog. Miami is a -1000 series favorite. The Heat lost four games in a row only twice this season.