NBA Betting: Celts, Heat Reach For Series Lead

Deadlocked at 2-2, the Eastern Conference final heads back to Miami on Wednesday for Game 5 between the Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat.

The Celtics tied the series on Monday night by routing the Heat 102-82 as a 6.5-point home favorite. Jayson Tatum led Boston with 31 points to go along with eight rebounds and five assists. Miami started the game shooting bricks and missed its first 14 shots on the way to scoring only one point in the first nine minutes of the contest. Jimmy Butler finished with only six points on 3-of-14 shooting.

Celtics could close as first road favorite of series

At Bovada Sportsbook, the Celtics are currently a 1-point road favorite in Game 5. If that line holds, it will mark the first time in this series that the home team is the underdog.

Through their playoff run so far, the Celtics are 10-5 both straight up and against the spread. Boston has been strong on the road lately at 5-2 SU and 6-1 ATS in its last seven. As a road favorite, the Celts have won six straight with a 5-1 ATS record, and this season when listed as a road favorite they were 19-4 SU and 16-7 ATS.

Miami is 10-5 SU and 9-6 ATS in the playoffs so far. At home the Heat have been almost unbeatable with a 10-1 SU record and 9-2 ATS mark in their last 11. Before losing Game 2 of the series at home, the Heat had won 10 straight home games. This season Miami was listed as a home underdog only five times and went 4-1 SU and ATS.

Smart, Herro among players dealing with injuries

Both Boston and Miami have injury concerns that bettors should keep an eye on heading into Game 5.

Boston guard Marcus Smart missed Game 4 due to a right ankle sprain. Smart also missed the series opener with a foot sprain. Robert Williams, who sat out Game 3 due to swelling in his surgically repaired left knee, returned for Game 4 and is expected to be available again for Game 5.

Miami guard Tyler Herro also missed Game 4 due to a groin injury. Butler (knee) and Kyle Lowry (hamstring) are also dealing with nagging injuries, and after Game 4 turned into a blowout, both players finished the game on the bench.