The Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics are set to face each other in the NBA playoffs for the seventh time since 2010. The previous six matchups have all been significant, with the winner advancing to the NBA Finals. Notably, the top-seeded team has not made it to the Finals since the 2016-17 Warriors.
In the latest clash between the two teams, the Celtics defeated the Heat in seven games during the 2022 Eastern Conference Finals, only to fall to the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals. Heat fans were enthusiastic about the potential matchup with Boston, chanting “We want Boston!” during Miami’s victory over the Chicago Bulls in the play-in tournament.
Despite facing the absence of Jimmy Butler due to a sprained knee, the Heat managed to secure a playoff spot. In their recent game against the Bulls, Tyler Herro had an impressive performance, scoring 24 points and nearly achieving a triple-double. Rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. also contributed with 21 points.
The historical playoff series record between the Heat and the Celtics since 2010 reflects a close competition, with Miami leading 4-2. The table below details the outcomes of each series:
| NBA Season | Series Result |
|————|—————|
| 2009-10 | Celtics Win Series 4-1 |
| 2010-11 | Heat Win Series 4-1 |
| 2011-12 | Heat Win Series 4-3 |
| 2019-20 | Heat Win Series 4-2 |
| 2021-22 | Celtics Win Series 4-3 |
| 2022-23 | Heat Win Series 4-3 |
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra emphasized the team’s hard-earned success, stating, “We had to earn this. You can’t influence it, and you can’t pay money for it.” The Heat’s resilience was evident in their recent victory, with players like Kevin Love and Bam Adebayo making significant contributions on the court.
Heading into the playoff series, the Heat find themselves as the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference for the second consecutive year. The team’s previous underdog success, upsetting the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks last year, has instilled confidence in their ability to compete at a high level.
Meanwhile, the Celtics are coming off a strong regular season, winning an NBA-best 64 games. Despite their loss to the Heat in last year’s East finals, Boston will have an advantage in the upcoming series due to Butler’s absence. NBA sportsbooks currently favor the Celtics, giving them a heavy 13.5-point advantage in Game 1.
As the series approaches, both teams are poised to bring their best on the court. Jaquez highlighted the importance of the Heat’s culture and toughness, emphasizing the need to set the tone early and play a physical game against Boston. With high expectations and intense competition ahead, the Heat and the Celtics are gearing up for another thrilling playoff showdown.
