Heat vs. Celtics Betting Line – Game 3 of the 2012 Eastern Conference Finals

Carrie Stroup here with your Heat vs. Celtics betting line for Game 3 of the 2012 Eastern Conference Finals.  Boston was a -1.5 favorite.  You can bet this game at Sportsbook here, where you can qualify for up to $250 in FREE CASH.

Sportsbook.ag Line & Total: Boston -2 & 180.5

Opening Line & Total: Celtics -1.5 & 180

Despite an amazing performance from PG Rajon Rondo in Game 2, his Celtics still lost to the Heat in overtime, setting up a must-win for Boston at home on Friday night.

Rondo scored 44 points (16-of-24 FG) with 10 assists, eight rebounds and three steals in Wednesday’s 115-111 overtime defeat. But the Heat stars shone brightly again as LeBron James scored 34 points and Dwyane Wade pitched in 23, giving the duo a whopping 308 points (61.6 per game) during the team’s current five-game winning streak. They have won these five games by an average of 14.0 PPG (105.8 to 91.8 PPG). The series now moves to TD Garden where the Celtics are 6-1 SU (3-4 ATS) in these playoffs, limiting visitors to just 82.3 PPG.

Miami has had its troubles winning on the road this season at 21-17 (17-21 ATS), and the team has been petrified of TD Garden, going 1-13 (4-10 ATS) in its past 10 trips to Boston, including losing both visits this year in blowout fashion, 91-72 and 78-66.

The Celtics have allowed the Heat to score 100 points only twice during this 1-13 slump. Also, Boston under Doc Rivers is 76-53 ATS (59%) after a loss by six or fewer points, and the C’s are 6-2 (SU and ATS) in the past eight instances when favored by two points or less at home.

Miami was able to capture the 2-0 series lead despite making just 44.6% FG and 66.0% FT (31-for-47). The Celtics were whistled for 15 more fouls than the Heat, and dished out only 15 assists on their 40 field goals. Boston shot much better in Game 2 though, making 49.4% FG, 31.3% threes (5-of-16) and 26-of-29 from the foul line (89.7%). The teams each had 42 rebounds, but the Heat held the edge in both points in the paint (40-30) and fast-break points (18-10).

James had another well-rounded stat line in Game 2 with a +10 rating, 10 rebounds (four offensive), seven assists and just one turnover. He imposed his will in the lane by getting to the free-throw line a whopping 24 times. Wade also took the ball to the hole and made 7-of-11 foul shots. He was 8-for-15 from the floor, not bothering to attempt a three-pointer. Two other Miami players also erased poor Game 1 performances with huge nights in Game 3. PG Mario Chalmers was 3-of-9 FG (0-for-6 threes) in Game 1, but he buried 8-of-16 shots (3-of-6 threes) on Wednesday, finishing with 22 points, six assists, four rebounds and two steals. PF Udonis Haslem was scoreless in the series opener, but poured in 13 points with 11 rebounds in Game 2. SF Shane Battier made just 3-of-9 shots, but finished with nine points and a +12 rating. He now has a series-best +28 rating in the two games.

Rondo was the star in Game 2, but he had help. SF Paul Pierce recovered nicely from his 5-for-18 shooting night on Monday, knocking down 21 points on 8-of-19 FG (0-for-5 threes) with six rebounds before fouling out. Although the Celtics are happy to return home, Pierce has not played well at TD Garden in his past five games there, scoring just 14.0 PPG on 36.5% FG (3-of-13 threes) in 38.4 MPG. PF Kevin Garnett had an off-night in Game 2 (6-for-18 FG), but he has been a beast at home in the playoffs with 20.4 PPG (53.2% FG) and 10.6 RPG. SG Ray Allen more than doubled his Game 1 output (6 points on 1-of-7 FG) with 13 points (5-of-11 FG) and five rebounds on Wednesday. PF Brandon Bass also stepped up his game on Wednesday with eight points (2-of-4 FG, 4-of-4 FT) and 10 rebounds, which is eight more than he grabbed in Game 1. Boston’s bench was pretty worthless in Game 2, combining for just seven points and five rebounds in 49 minutes.

- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter