The Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics meet in Boston in an early afternoon matinee affair due to end well before the Super Bowl starts. Each team come in off back-to-back losses. The Heat sit in 7th and a playoff spot in the East while the Celtics are 11th and on the outside looking in. Even though the Heat are underdogs, I expect them to come away with the win or at least cover the points spread.

Here are my keys to the game:

1. Boston struggling at home: The Celtics are coming off a season-worst shooting performance, hitting 35.6 percent in Friday's 93-87 home loss to Houston. They've lost three straight and five of six at TD Garden. Overall on the season, the Celtics are just 9-12 on their home court.

3. Road warriors: The Heat has been better on the road this season than they have at home. The Heat seek their fifth win in seven road games. Miami is 12-9 ATS on the road and perhaps more impressively, a 7-1 ATS versus Atlantic division opponents.

3. X-Factor: Heat center Hassan Whiteside could very likely be a force in this game as he faces off a small starting lineup in the Celtics. Boston hasn't been starting a player taller than 6-foot-9 and Whiteside has been dominating the boards of late. Since Jan. 11, he's averaging a league-best 3.3 blocks while ranking in the top 10 with 11.6 rebounds per game.

Selection: This is a play on the Miami Heat (10*)