T.M. Selection: Miami Heat.

I like the Miami Heat to cover the spread against the Boston Celtics in this game on Friday. The Heat are really banged up for this game but they were also banged up in their previous game and they still looked really good in the 1st half. They stayed in that game and were even leading for a majority of the 1st half but things started to fall apart for them in the 2nd half. That game was really defensive though and I think that the Heat are going to have to play with that same defensive effort here to try and win this road game and stay alive. The Heat may not win this game to stay alive but I think they can cover the spread here with a great defensive effort and keep this game close enough to still give themselves a chance to win it. The Celtics are also a bit banged up for this game and I think that will help the Heat put up more points on them to stay close in this game. The Heat are going to be desperate here facing elimination and I expect them to bring everything they have here. They are still the 1st seed in the East and they aren't going to go down here without a fight. This game is too important for them to just give up and get blown out by 20+ points so I expect to see their best effort here from the Heat. Defense was what they leaned on all year with incredible defensive play and I expect that defensive effort to show up here and keep them in this game. I like the Heat to cover the spread here.

T.M. Prediction: 95-91 Celtics.