Celtics vs. Heat Thursday NBA injury report, Game 2 spread, odds, pick: Marcus Smart back, but Derrick White, Al Horford out

The Boston Celtics were initially favored to win the Eastern Conference Finals against the top-seeded Miami Heat because oddsmakers expected the Celtics to be at full strength. That was not the case in Game 1 with starters Marcus Smart and Al Horford both out, and while Smart will be back tonight for Game 2 in south Florida, Horford and top reserve guard Derrick White are both expected to sit. The Heat are -3.5 at Caesars Sportsbook. (See tickets at StubHub)

Smart, the NBA Defensive Player of the Year, missed the opener with a right foot sprain but has been upgraded to probable. If you watched Tuesday's game at all, you'd have seen that he was somewhat limping.

The Celtics will almost surely ask Smart to help check red-hot Jimmy Butler, who dominated with 42 points, nine rebounds and five assists in Miami's 118-107 win. Butler is averaging 29.8 points per game in these playoffs (8.4 better than the regular season) and is set at Over/Under 26.5 tonight at Caesars. Smart, averaging 15.0 PPG in the postseason, is at 13.5.

Horford is doubtful and in health and safety protocols, and frankly the Celtics are lucky no other players have tested positive (as of now) considering Horford was a full participant in the team's shootaround Tuesday morning before being ruled out about two hours before Game 1. With Robert Williams back to man the center position in Game 1, Grant Williams started for Horford and had seven points in 35 minutes. Grant Williams is set at Over/Under 9.5 points tonight.

White is out for personal reasons and it's not clear what that is – although there's chatter his wife is about to give birth back in Boston and White flew back there. White, an in-season trade acquisition from San Antonio, was not great in Game 1 with three points, four assists, four fouls and two turnovers in 29 minutes, but he's a valuable reserve and good defender. White has been averaging about 24 minutes per game in the playoffs.

That likely means that Payton Pritchard will get heavy minutes again. He didn't play much in the second round against Milwaukee but was on the floor for 30 minutes in Game 1 Tuesday with Smart out and had 18 points, five rebounds and four assists. There aren't any props up on Pritchard yet. He is a massive defensive liability. 

As expected, Miami remains without point guard Kyle Lowry due to his hamstring injury. At this point, it might be a surprise if he plays in this series. Including the regular season, Miami has won 10 straight home games and Lowry only played in a few of those.

On the updated series line, Miami is -135 and Boston +115. The favored result is Heat in seven at +340.

Free NBA pick: Heat -165

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