NBA Eastern Conference Finals: Betting odds, best bets and schedule

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The conference finals are underway in the NBA as just Boston, Miami, Denver and L.A. remain in the running for the Larry O’Brien trophy.

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The east final begins Wednesday in Boston as the Celtics and Miami Heat meet in the third round of the playoffs for the second straight year.

After two playoff rounds, Boston sits as the favourite to win the 2023 NBA championship.

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Here’s everything you need to know about betting on the 2023 NBA Eastern Conference Finals.

Eastern Conference Finals

Game 1, May 17: Miami at Boston, 8:30 p.m. ET

Game 2, May 19: Miami at Boston, 8:30 p.m. ET

Game 3, May 21: Boston at Miami, 8:30 p.m. ET

Game 4, May 23: Boston at Miami, 8:30 p.m. ET

Game 5, May 25: Miami at Boston, 8:30 p.m. ET *if necessary

Game 6, May 27: Boston at Miami, 8:30 p.m. ET *if necessary

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Game 7, May 29: Miami at Boston, 8:30 p.m. ET *if necessary

Season series: Tied 2-2

Boston Celtics

The Celtics took out the Hawks in six games in the opening round of the playoffs before going the distance in a seven-game win over the 76ers in the second round.

Boston is trying to break a tie with the Lakers for most NBA championships. Both franchises currently have 17 titles, which could set up a highly anticipated NBA Finals matchup as L.A. is still alive in the west final.

The Celtics are the clear-cut better team on paper heading into this series. Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Malcolm Brogdon are just a few of the dangerous names on this roster.

Tatum is the player to watch for Boston. His heroics made the difference for the Celtics in the first round against Atlanta and his 51-point performance in Game 7 against Philadelphia set a record for most points in a Game 7 in NBA history.

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It’s worth remembering that Tatum has also had his struggles. In Game 6 against the 76ers, he missed 14 of his first 15 shot attempts before coming alive in the later stages of the game.

Through the playoffs, Tatum is averaging a team-high 28.2 points per game. During the regular season, he led the Celtics with 30.1 ppg and 8.8 rebounds.

Boston’s supporting cast is what makes them such heavy favourites to win the series. In addition to Tatum, four other Celtics players are averaging double-digit points in the playoffs, including Brown, who is putting up 24.6 ppg.

Boston Celtics’ best bet: Boston wins series in seven games (+343)

Miami Heat

Miami shocked the NBA in the first round of the playoffs when they knocked off the top overall seed, Milwaukee, in just five games.

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The Heat followed that first-round upset with a six-game victory against the Knicks in the second round as Miami looks to become just the second-ever No. 8 seed to reach the NBA Finals.

For better or worse, this series will come down to Jimmy Butler for the Heat. Although he rejects the title, “Playoff Jimmy” is a real thing. Butler is the highest scorer left in the playoffs, averaging 31.1 ppg. That’s almost 10 points more than he averaged during the regular season.

Butler is also clutch when it counts. He dropped 56 points in Game 4 against the Bucks and another 42 in the series-deciding Game 5.

Last year in the Eastern Conference Finals against Boston, Butler averaged 25.6 ppg and hit the 40-point mark in both Games 1 and 6, which resulted in Miami victories.

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The Heat’s supporting cast isn’t as strong, but it’s consistent. They have eight different players averaging double-digit points in the postseason, although Butler and Bam Adebayo are the only scorers averaging more than 12 points. Adebayo is putting up 18.1 ppg and a team-high 9.2 rebounds.

Miami Heat best bet: Miami +1.5 series handicap (+152)

You can visit Sports Interaction for complete NBA game odds, props and futures bets.

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