2020 NBA Playoffs: Celtics vs. Heat Game 4 odds, picks & prediction

Following two devastating come-from-behind loss, the Boston Celtics put it together and took Game 3 from the Miami Heat. Even with the win, the Miami Heat are still in the driver’s seat, and Boston will need to pull out all the stops to avoid a 3-1 hole when these two teams clash again on Wednesday, Sept. 23.

Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals tips off at 8:30 p.m. ET, and BetAmerica has a preview and pick for this critical game.

Boston was dominant in Game 3

After two disastrous games where the Celtics saw seemingly insurmountable leads erased en route to losses, Boston dominated Miami on both sides of the ball and never let up. Behind Boston’s 117-106 win was a stout defensive effort that held Miami to 39% shooting. The Celtics also received excellent performances on both sides of the ball from Jayson Tatum and Marcus Smart.

Miami was outplayed on all fronts, but managed to hang tough and prevent a blowout loss. Unlike the previous games, Miami came out flat and let Boston set the pace to the point where the game was firmly out of reach. Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro did what they could to keep the game close, but Boston was just one step ahead of them.

The Celtics came up with the perfect blueprint to slow down the Heat

It’s a small miracle that the Heat only lost by 11 points. Putting Smart on Goron Dragic prevented the Celtics from losing another major lead, and their defense overall was the best they’ve played all series. If there was any blueprint for Boston to follow to regain control of this series, Game 3 was it.

Butler and Adebayo need to contain Tatum and Jaylen Brown from the onset, and Goran Dragic needs to find a way to shake Smart off him to avoid another loss. Whether it was fatigue or just failing to adjust to Boston’s new approach, the Heat need to be better in the paint and must pull down some boards. Basically, the Heat had an off night and need to go back to the same consistency that got them here in the first place.

Expect Miami to heat up

The Celtics tend to trade a strong performance with a letdown. As good as they looked last game, Miami remains the more consistent squad. Miami should come back strong, though it’s likely they’ll be behind at the start of the second half. This time, Miami holds it down and scores another win to edge closer to the NBA finals.

NBA free pick: Miami moneyline