Boston a historic favorite over Jimmy Butler-less Miami
Oddsmakers are all-in on the Celtics in the first round against the Heat.
The Celtics are an absurd -5000 favorite at BetMGM Sportsbook to take down the Heat, who are +1700 to pull off the upset.
Boston is the biggest pre-series favorite since the Bucks were -7500 to beat the Orlando Magic in Round 1 of the 2020 NBA Playoffs, according to Sports Odds History.
Celtics vs. Heat series odds
| Celtics odds | Heat odds |
|---|---|
| -5000 | +1700 |
It’s just the 12th NBA Playoff series with a -5000 or shorter favorite since at least 1988.
The favorite won all 11 of the previous series, and just two of them went longer than five games.
Bookies are anticipating the Celtics to clean up quickly, too — Boston is -110 to sweep the series.
The Heat are just a year removed from shocking the Celtics with a massive upset in the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals.
But they’ll be without their best player this time around against Boston.
Heat superstar Jimmy Butler suffered a right MCL sprain during the Heat’s play-in game against the 76ers on Wednesday, knocking him out for Friday’s elimination game against the Bulls, which Miami won 112-91 to secure the No. 8 seed.
The six-time All-Star is expected to miss four weeks with the injury, leveling the Heat’s chances at a deep playoff run.
On the other hand, Vegas is expecting a deep playoff run for Boston.
Betting on the NBA?
The Celtics are the biggest pre-postseason NBA Finals favorite (+160) since the 2019 Golden State Warriors, who entered the playoffs at -178 to win it all before losing to the Raptors in the final round.
Boston is also -200 to win the Eastern Conference, which are the lowest odds before Round 1 since the LeBron James-led Cleveland Cavaliers in 2017, who were -210.
Whoever takes the series will play the winner of Cavaliers-Magic in the second round of the postseason.
