Heat vs Celtics Picks and Prediction – 4/24/2024

In the first game of a Wednesday night NBA on TNT playoff doubleheader, the Miami Heat will battle the Boston Celtics from TD Garden. For other NBA action see our NBA Predictions. The eighth-seeded Heat rank fifth in the league in defensive efficiency and are allowing 108.4 points per game. In the series opener, Miami trailed by 15 points at halftime and shot 47 percent from the field during a 114-94 road loss. 

All-Star C Bam Adebayo tallied a game-high 24 points on 10-for-18 shooting to go along with six rebounds and six assists. Delon Wright scored 17 points (6-7 FG) in 26 minutes off the Miami bench. Jaime Jacquez Jr. added 16 points and four rebounds for the Heat, who were outrebounded by a 47-37 margin. 

The Boston Celtics won 37 of their 41 home games during the regular season and are in search of their first championship since 2008. The top-seeded Celtics are leading the league in offensive efficiency and are scoring 120.6 points per game. During Sunday’s home victory, Boston outscored Miami by 17 points in the third quarter and led by as many as 34 points. 

All-Star F Jayson Tatum led six Boston players in double figures with 23 points, ten rebounds, and ten assists. Derrick White chipped in 20 points (6-10 FG) and four assists. Kristaps Porzingis added 18 points and four boards for the Celtics, who connected on 22-for-49 from the three-point line.