The Lakers bowed out against the Nuggets in a sweep, but the Celtics managed to take one on the road to extend their series with the Heat. The Celtics will play hosts in Game 5 and as they look to defy the odds and continue their fightback in the NBA’s Eastern Conference Finals.
Check out our NBA betting tips for Game 5 below and good luck to everyone following us this post-season!
NBA Playoffs Betting Tips: Conference Finals Game 5
Miami Heat at Boston Celtics
TD Garden, Friday 10:30am AEST
Just when you thought the Heat were about to join the Nuggets in the NBA Finals, the Celtics stage a big comeback in the second half of Game 4 to extend this Eastern Conference Finals series to at least five games.
Whether or not the Celtics’ Game 4 win will see them build any momentum in this series remains to be seen, but if they are to complete the reverse sweep and in the last four games, they’ll be the first team in NBA history to do so.
One thing the Celtics do have in their favour is home court advantage in two of the last three games in the series. With that in mind, they’ll feel like a win in Game 5 will give them a legitimate opportunity to defy all odds.
However, this Miami Heat team is one of the most resilient teams we’ve seen in the playoffs in some time, and they rely on heart and effort more so than talent, which arguably makes the Celtics job to build meaningful momentum even tougher.
What was also evident in Game 4 from a Heat perspective was they never stopped trying despite everything going against them. They didn’t score a field goal in the fourth quarter until there was just 5:43 remaining, yet their intensity remained high and players were still grinding and diving for loose balls.
That type of effort and intensity by the Heat when things are going against them is something that we haven’t seen consistently enough from the Celtics in these playoffs.
The TD Garden will be doing everything they can to lift their beloved Celtics to a Game 5 win which would instil some nerves into the Heat camp, and the bookies seem to think they’re almost a sure thing to do so as they’re currently 8-point favourites.
Considering how great the Heat have been all playoffs, coupled with the fact they haven’t lost back-to-back games since March, I believe the odds are insulting. I give them every chance of closing out the series on Friday and am happy to be on them to cover the big spread.
Miami Heat +8
$1.90 (2 Units)
