The Boston Celtics can join the Golden State Warriors in the 2022 NBA Finals with a win this Saturday against the Miami Heat, who can force a Game 7 down in South Beach with a victory this weekend. 

Catch this game live on Saturday, May 28, at 8:30 AM, Manila time

Away: Miami Heat (2-3/1-1 Away)

Projected Starting Five:

  • PG: Kyle Lowry
  • SG: Max Strus
  • SF: Jimmy Butler
  • PF: PJ Tucker 
  • C: Bam Adebayo

Maybe it’s time for the Heat to make a bold move and move Kyle Lowry to the bench. Whether the veteran point guard is playing hurt or he’s just in a brutal slump, what he’s shown in the series of late doesn’t warrant Miami’s full trust. In Miami’s 93-80 home loss back in Game 5, Lowry laid a goose egg on 0/6 shooting from the field. Prior to that. Lowry shot 1/6 for only 3 points. 

Miami is getting desperate and a potential solution to its malaise could be benching Lowry for Gabe Vincent, who’s been more effective in the second round. So far in the series, Vincent is averaging more points and assists per 36 minutes than Lowry. That being said, Lowry’s ability to step up when needed the most can’t be overlooked. The Lowry situation is an intriguing narrative for the Heat going into Game 6 on the road, where they are 13-6-1 ATS in their last 20 games.

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Home: Boston Celtics (3-2/1-1 Home)

Projected Starting Five:

  • PG: Marcus Smart
  • SG: Jaylen Brown
  • SF: Jayson Tatum
  • PF: Grant Williams
  • C: Robert Williams

It’s the perfect time for the Celtics to finish the series. Not only do they have the 3-2 advantage, but they’re playing at home this Saturday. Speaking of which, the Over has hit the totals in five of the Celtics’ last seven games at TD Garden. Miami also just looks gassed compared to the Celtics, whose duo of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum will have to continue pouncing on the tired Celtics. Tatum scored 22 points in Game 5, while Brown delivered 25 points for Boston, which is 20-8-1 ATS in its last 29 games overall. 

As a team, the Celtics’ defense has seemingly put the shackles on Miami. Over the last two games, the Heat have shot just 32.6 FG% and 25.9 3FG%. The Celtics are also simply showing so far in the series that their offense has a higher ceiling than Miami’s, in part because they have been moving the ball better. Boston leads the series with 106.4 points per game on 45.8 FG% to just 40.6 FG% by the Heat.

PREDICTIONS:

Spread: The Celtics cover (-8.5).

Over/Under: Taking the Over (200.5).

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