Bracket, Standings, Odds, Schedule And Game 7 Predictions For Heat Vs. Celtics

The Miami Heat and Boston Celtics are gearing up for a riveting Game 7 of their Eastern Conference Finals series. This thrilling series has been arguably the most intense of the 2022 NBA Playoffs thus far, featuring two top-tier teams trading blows across six grueling games.

It’s now down to a win-or-go-home elimination game that has a 2022 NBA Finals date with the Golden State Warriors on the line.

Boston had Miami on the ropes in Game 6 but couldn’t close out this plucky foe. The C’s squandered an opportunity to clinch the conference title on TD Garden parquet, falling 111-103 to a Heat squad that was dialed in defensively.

While Jayson Tatum continued his dominant postseason run with another 30 points—including making four of his seven three-pointers—his Celtics teammates struggled in Game 6. Boston’s other starters could not get it going from beyond the arc, with Al Horford, Marcus Smart, Robert Williams III and Jaylen Brown combining to hit just three of their 18 attempts from deep.

Jimmy Butler paced the Heat with a scintillating 47-point outing. Butler looked fully healthy for the first time since the opener, burying the C’s by going 16-of-29 on his field goal attempts and four-of-eight from three while canning all 11 of his free throw attempts.

Butler wasn’t the only Heat player to get it going from long range. Miami’s four other starters collectively hit nine of 19 treys in the contest, ultimately making the difference in an eight-point victory.

With that now in the past, all that matters for both sides is the result of Game 7. Fans won’t want to miss this one, so get prepared for the deciding clash in this Heat vs. Celtics series by reading on for a preview that includes the full schedule, start time, viewing information, a 2022 NBA Playoff bracket and updated odds courtesy of FanDuel.

Heat vs. Celtics Game 7 Schedule

Date: Sunday, May 29

Start Time: 8:30 p.m.

TV: ESPN

Live Stream: WatchESPN, ESPN App

2022 NBA Playoff Bracket

2022 Eastern Conference Finals Game 7 Odds

Point Spread: Celtics -2.5

Total: Over-Under 195.5 Points

Moneyline: BOS -140, MIA +120

Heat vs. Celtics Game 7 Preview & Prediction

The Celtics find themselves in a familiar winner-take-all situation. This will be the fifth Game 7 that the club has been involved with since the start of the 2017 NBA Playoffs.

Boston has performed well in these big moments, winning three of the past four series that went the distance. The team most recently stepped up in the Eastern Conference semifinals, knocking out the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks to set up this meeting with the Heat.

The C’s lone Game 7 loss over the past half decade came in the 2018 Eastern Conference Finals, narrowly falling on their home floor to LeBron James’ Cleveland Cavaliers. Many players on Boston’s current roster will vividly remember the sting of that defeat, including the core group of Tatum, Brown, Smart and Horford.

It’s unlikely they let their best chance to make the Finals since that series slip away tonight. Tatum made it clear he’s sure his side will win Game 7 when responding to a question about his confidence level (via ESPN):

“Scale of 1 to 10? Ten. I mean, it shouldn’t be any less than that, right? You know, it’s the last game. That’s what it’s all about. It’s a 10 out of 10 in my confidence level and the group.”

While Boston now must go on the road to close out the Heat, the team hasn’t had much trouble at FTX Arena thus far in the 2022 Eastern Conference Finals. Two of the C’s three wins have come on the shores of the Biscayne Bay, including a statement Game 5 victory in which they held Miami to a series-low 80 points.

Including the regular season, the Celtics have emerged victorious in six of their last seven contests in South Florida. Prior to their Game 3 win at FTX Arena, the Heat hadn’t beat the Celtics at home since January 2019.

While the Heat certainly can’t be counted out—especially if Butler is fully healthy and locked in—they don’t have the same amount of firepower coupled with battle-tested playoff experience that these Celtics can boast.

Boston is favored for a reason and should emerge as Eastern Conference Champions ready for a matchup with the Warriors in the 2022 NBA Finals.

Pick: Celtics -2.5

Prediction: Celtics 99 – Heat 95