The Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics will go all out this Tuesday as they end their thrilling 2023 NBA Eastern Conference Finals series in what should be a thrilling Game 7 at TD Garden. 

Catch this game live on Tuesday, May 29, at 8:30 AM, Manila time

Away: Miami Heat (3-3)

Projected Starting Five:

  • PG: Gabe Vincent
  • SG: Max Strus
  • SF: Jimmy Butler
  • PF: Caleb Martin
  • C: Bam Adebayo

Never in the history of the NBA has there been a team that completely choked a 3-0 series lead in the postseason. Jimmy Butler and the Heat could be the first to suffer such an embarrassing fate, but the Heat have not gone this far in the playoffs just to end up on the wrong end of history. Despite their painful 104-103 loss at home to the Celtics, the Heat, who are 5-2 against the spread in their last seven games after a loss, believe they can get the job done. 

After all, they had the victory in the bag in Game 6 until Derrick White stole it at the very last possible tick of the clock. For the Heat to pull off a win, they are going to need their outside shooting to be steady. In Game 6, they kept in step with Boston by shooting 14/30 from behind the arc. After shooting poorly in Game 4 from 3-point distance, the Heat have managed to connect on 43.4 percent of their 3-point attempts in the two games since.

Home: Boston Celtics (3-3)

Projected Starting Five:

  • PG: Marcus Smart
  • PG: Derrick White
  • SF: Jaylen Brown
  • PF: Jayson Tatum
  • C: Robert Williams III

Just like Celtics legend Kevin Garnett once bellowed: “Anything is possible!” That’s a mantra the Celtics could very well be living by during their resurgence in the Eastern Conference Finals. Jayson Tatum has stepped up his play over the last three games to help fuel Boston’s comeback. Over that stretch, he averaged 28.3 on 50 FG%, while also dishing out 7.7 dimes and grabbing 10.3 rebounds. 

His willingness to create for his teammates has made a terrific impact on the Celtics, whose defense has also played a big role in the team’s success of late. That’s further underscored by the fact that the Heat have generated 99.7 points on 43.0 FG% since Game 4. If the Celtics could play just a little bit more honest defensively and cut down on their fouls, Miami will have a harder time putting up points on the board. 

PREDICTIONS:

Spread: The Celtics (-7.5) cover the spread.

Over/Under: The total (203.0) hits the Under.