Our free NBA picks are out for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals series between the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat! Make sure you check our expert NBA picks before the action kicks off.
Look below to find our free NBA picks for the second game of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Celtics and Heat!
Boston Celtics @ Miami Heat – 9pm ET
It’s Game 2 of this Eastern Conference Finals series between the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat. The Heat proved too good in the first game, pulling away in the third quarter and never looking back. Will the Heat strike again to take this series out to 2-0, or can the Celtics hit back and level the series before it moves the Boston?
Jeffery Thomas
Jimmy Butler came out in Game 1 and led his Miami Heat to the 118-107 victory, making a huge statement in the process. The All Star had 41 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals, and 3 blocks in the win, proving he should not need to be overlooked when talking about some of the best players in the game today. It wasn’t the fastest start for the home team, as they had to overcome a 13-point first half deficit but the Celtics felt the effects of their Game 7 a couple days before as the game wore on.
It’s clear Boston ran out of gas after their fast start and because of that they find themselves down in the series. Celtics fans should not panic though, as they should be getting Marcus Smart back in Game 2 from his foot injury. The Cs also dealt with deficits of 0-1, 1-2, and 2-3 in the previous round against the Milwaukee Bucks so this little 0-1 is nothing to them. I expect them to be a lot more crisp in this game and with their defensive player of the year winner coming back into the lineup, I think they can get this win on the road and steal home court advantage from Miami.
Jeffery’s NBA Pick: Boston Celtics (+138)
Noah Dunlap
It’s time for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals, and this one should live up to the hype, after Game 1 gave us some exciting action. The Boston Celtics managed to stay in the game for the first half, as they led by eight at halftime, but a collapse in the third quarter all but put the game away, as they opened the second half allowing Miami to go on a 22-2 run. After the run, they never really got back in it, with the Heat cruising to the win, and now looking for the opportunity to take a 2-0 lead before heading to Boston for Game 3. The big question I have for this one is whether or not the C’s can compete when they get fully healthy. They’re currently without Al Horford who is out due to COVID, and Marcus Smart also missed the first matchup of the series, with what looks to be a minor ankle issue. Currently it looks as if Smart will play in this one, while Horford is doubtful, so it’ll be interesting to see if Marcus Smart can be a difference-maker here.
For the Miami Heat, I think they are going to need a bit more balance than they got in Game 1, as they were largely carried by Jimmy Butler, who went for 41. If Butler keeps that up, then it won’t matter, but to me that seems a bit doubtful for a best-of-seven series. If Bam Adebayo or Tyler Herro can give them more on that end of the floor too, I think this is a series that Miami can control, but it is going to come down to the help that Butler gets. I think this game ends up being close, but being in South Beach, and with the C’s not having Horford, I’m still going to lean Heat by a nose. I’m not sure about what the winning margin is though, so just stick to the Miami moneyline.
Noah’s NBA Pick: Miami Heat (-164)
Tony Battalio
The Boston Celtics looked absolutely lost in the second half of Game 1 of this series, as they would end up losing the game by a final score of 107-118. Despite the loss Jayson Tatum still scored 29 points as it was business as usual for him. The Celtics were cruising in the first half as they took an eight point lead into the break but it didn’t last long as they had trouble stopping Jimmy Butler all night long. Now they will be looking to bounce back here in Game 2 as they would like to take a tied series back to Boston for the next two games instead of being down 0-2.
It was the Jimmy Butler show in Game 1 as his 41 point performance helped lift the Miami Heat to an eleven point win over Boston. Now the Heat will be looking to take a two game lead in this series behind another strong Jimmy Butler performance in Game 2. Miami’s strong regular season performance at home has carried over into the postseason as they are currently 7-0 when playing on their home floor. As for the result of the second game of this series, I am going with Miami to grab another victory over Boston at home.
Tony’s NBA Pick: Miami Heat (-164)
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*Odds and spreads correct at time of publication, courtesy of FanDuel.
