Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals tips off tonight (8:30 p.m. ET, TNT), with the Heat looking to take a commanding 3-0 lead over the reigning conference-champion Celtics (-3.5). This could be an example of an unstoppable force (Miami is 5-0 at home this playoffs) meeting an immovable object (Boston is 4-2 on the road this postseason, and 4-2 following a loss). That makes it a tough game to handicap in a traditional betting sense, but it certainly makes for some fun SuperDraft player prop betting.
We have seen plenty of heroics throughout the past two postseason runs from Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. But what Jimmy Butler has done during the 2023 NBA Playoffs has been nothing short of spectacular. Already regarded as one of the most clutch players in the league, Butler has elevated his game so much that people have begun widely speculating that he might be the spawn of Michael Jordan.
Butler has scored 62 points through two games this series, and Grant Williams poking the bear in Game 2 unofficially led to 'Playoff Jimmy' mauling the Celtics into a tough 2-0 series hole. Now it's up to the Jays to rise up and prove their All-NBA worth or face a practically-impossible 3-0 deficit on the road. Let's take a look at our favorite SuperDraft props for the pivotal Game 3 of this Eastern Conference Finals clash, and briefly explain why each player prop over/under seems like a good bet.
MORE: Has a team ever come back from a 3-0 series deficit?
If basketball fans want to bet on more big performances from Butler, Tatum, or Brown, SuperDraft makes for a great site to do so. SuperDraft bettors can pick an over/under on two or more player props. If they hit both legs of a two-prop bet, they win up to 3X the amount wagered. The potential return increases each time a prop gets added. Think of it as a "Same Game Parlay." More legs equal more risk, but also a bigger potential payout. However, not all players have the same props, so keep that in mind as you pick your over/under plays and try to win some cash during tonight's game.
SuperDraft Player Prop Picks for Heat-Celtics Game 3
Jimmy Butler, G/F, Heat — OVER 6 assists
We're expecting Mazzulla and the Celtics to throw everything but the kitchen sink at Butler defensively today, and the result will likely be even more assists for the future Hall-of-Famer. He has seven-plus dimes in three of Miami's past five games, and his scoring totals in Game 1 and 2 were 35 and 27, respectively. If Boston limits Butler to 25 tonight, it will be a success — but it's almost impossible to limit his scoring and contain his passing. He has tremendous vision and always seems to find the open shooters, who have been excellent in their own right all postseason. We have Butler projected at 25 points, eight assists, eight rebounds, and three steals tonight, so enjoy the easy OVER with his assist total.
MORE: 2011 NBA Redraft: Jimmy Butler or Kawhi Leonard?
Jaylen Brown, G/F, Celtics — OVER 24 points
In order for this to be a series, Boston's Dark Knight will have to rise up and be the best version of himself in Game 3. Butler has largely neutralized Tatum late in Game 1 and 2 — so much so that the dude who finished fourth in MVP voting this season has yet to make a field goal in the fourth quarter of either Eastern Conference Finals game. Brown should be taking 25 shots tonight, a mark he has reached just once this postseason — way back in the Celtics' series-clinching Game 6 win over Atlanta in the first round. He had 32 points in that game, the third consecutive game in which he posted 31-plus and the fourth time in that series that he put up at least 29. Where has that fire gone? JB failed to attempt even 20 shots in any of the seven games against Philly, and Boston almost lost that semifinals series multiple times. We did see an uptick in shot attempts from Brown late in Game 1 of this series, but not until it was too late (he finished 10-of-21 for 22 points, including 3-of-7 for six in the fourth quarter). Then in Game 2, he took 23 shots, but the offense around him seemed so congested and downright disjointed that he struggled to get anything going. THIS IS THE GAME! Game 3 is when Brown will flex his muscle, take it hard to the rack, hit some timely threes, and rack up 30 points again. He has averaged over 24 points in Miami throughout seven postseason battles with the Heat, and he averaged 30.3 points per game across three tilts with Miami this season. We believe the Dark Knight will rise again this evening.
Bam Adebayo, C, Heat — UNDER 10 rebounds
Adebayo was huge for the Heat in Game 2, grabbing a game-high 17 boards and pouring in 22 points. Bam had eight of his 17 rebounds in the fourth quarter, when the Celtics just fell apart at the seams. We just don't see Boston going back to Grant Williams for large stretches of crunch time, or for that matter going away from center Robert Williams. What has given the Celtics an advantage over the five Eastern Conference teams they have bested over the past two postseasons? Size. What did Boston not have during significant portions of the third quarter in Game 1 and fourth quarter in Game 2? A size advantage. If Joe Mazzulla can't figure that out, he shouldn't be the Celtics coach at this time next week. We think he will, though, and both Time Lord and Al Horford will make it a point to keep Bam off the boards. Adebayo has logged fewer than 10 boards in eight of Miami's 13 playoff games this year.
Al Horford, F/C, Celtics — OVER 7 points
Usually a subdued guy and an under-the-radar offensive element, Horford always seems to come alive and hit an extra gear in big playoff games. When Boston needs a few huge shots, Horford is at the ready perched outside the three-point line. If a big offensive board is needed, he sneaks into the interior and comes away with it. He's one of the most unheralded veterans in the Association, despite his fingerprints being all over each of the Celtics' last postseason runs. During that two-year playoff stretch, Horford has averaged just under 10 points per game following a loss, and we're banking on the dependable vet to put up eight or more this evening.
