<p>Boston and Miami played a thriller of a game in the opener of their Eastern Conference finals series Tuesday night, the Heat outlasting the Celtics in overtime. Miami shoots to take a 2-0 series lead when the teams meet again on Thursday night. The line on this game is almost exactly what it was for Game 1, and why not? Can the Heat win as underdogs again? Or can Boston avoid an 0-2 hole? And how are we playing this game with our free NBA playoff picks?
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<h2>Celtics -2.5/209.5 vs. Heat, 7 pm ET, ESPN</h2>
<p>Miami leads this Eastern Conference finals series one game to none, after taking the Game 1 Tuesday night 117-114 in overtime. The Heat trailed by eight points after one quarter but came back to forge a 55-55 tie at halftime. Miami then fell behind by 14 early in the fourth but rallied to force OT. The Heat then finally took the lead for good on Jimmy Butler's hoop-and-harm 3-point play with 12 seconds left in overtime, then secured the victory on Bam Adebayo's block of a Jason Tatum drive to the hole with three seconds left.
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<p>On the day Miami out-shot Boston from the floor 47 percent to 44 percent and out-rebounded the Celtics 41-37.
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<p>Tuesday's game also played over its total of 209 in regulation. Prior to Game 1, the unders were a combined 15-5 in Heat and Celtics games this postseason.
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<p>With Tuesday's win, Miami is now 9-1 both SU and ATS this playoff season.
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<span style="font-size:16px;"><b><span style="color:#008000;">Get more details:</span></b> <a class="advblue" href="https://www.sportsbettingstats.com/nba/matchup/1311643">Boston vs. Miami Match-up Stats</a> </span>
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<p>With Tuesday's loss, Boston is now 8-4, both SU and ATS in these playoffs.
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<p>Also, these two teams have now split four meetings, both SU and ATS this season.
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<p>NBA future odds opened this series with the Celtics lined as -130 favorites to advance to the NBA Finals, with the Heat getting +110. Now, following Miami's Game 1 victory, the Heat are listed as -160 favorites, with Boston getting +140.
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<p>On the injury front, Celtics F Gordon Hayward is working his way back toward the playing floor after missing most of these playoffs with a bad ankle, but he's not quite ready yet.
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