Celtics, Heat Ready to Buck UNDER Trend

They're frustrated, they're upset – and most importantly, they're behind 2-0. The Boston Celtics are running out of time in their quest to return to the NBA Finals as they tangle with the upstart Miami Heat in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final on Saturday night. Things came to a boiling point in the Boston locker room following Thursday's 106-101 Game 2 setback.

Sportsbook Odds Analysis

Neither the line nor the total has seen much movement, with Boston going from an Sportsbook of -2.5 up to -3 in the majority of spots and the total holding steady at 206.5 (the lowest it has been so far in the series).

Boston News & Notes

Shooting 50 percent from the floor only works if you get enough possessions to make it matter – and that didn't happen for the Celtics, who made 36-of-72 shot attempts in Game 2 but committed an incredible 20 turnovers leading to 26 Miami points. And they didn't get nearly enough extra possessions themselves, forcing only 11 Miami turnovers and turning them into 11 points.

Guard Marcus Smart and his expletive-filled postgame tirade made plenty of highlights, but Smart is one of the Celtics players who will need to step up Saturday night. Smart went just 5-of-13 from the floor while finishing with 14 points, four assists and four turnovers. Look for a return to form from the enigmatic veteran, who poured in 26 points in Boston's Game 1 overtime loss.

Miami News & Notes

The surging Heat have flustered the third-seeded Celtics at both ends of the court, just as they did with the Indiana Pacers in Round 1 and the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks in Round 2. That's why they're an incredible 10-1 SU and ATS so far in the postseason, with five outright underdog victories in their last seven games.

While Jimmy Butler was the catalyst for the Heat advancing through the first two rounds, he has had plenty of help against the Celtics. Big man Bam Adebayo has averaged 19.5 points, eight rebounds and 6.5 assists and is a decent play on a double-double prop, while point guard Goran Dragic leads the team with an average of 27 points while shooting 55.3 percent from the floor.

Betting Pick: OVER 206.5 (-110)

The Celtics haven't been able to do much to keep Miami from putting up strong point totals – so they'll need to take better care of the basketball. That should lead to more possessions, more scoring, and more of a chance at converting the OVER.