Tip off: 7 PM EST
Spread: MIA -1.5
Total: 181
M/L: MIA -125, IND +105
Betting Odds from Bookmaker
Indiana came out and surprised some analysts and fans alike with an impressive game two win. Stealing home court advantage, Indiana now heads back home knotted up one game a piece, looking to take an advantage in this Eastern Conference Semifinals series.
Losing Chris Bosh indefinitely with a strained abdomen has been a huge blow to the Heat. Not only are they missing their number three option offensively, but without Bosh, David West of the Pacers has had an easy time. West led the Pacers in scoring with 16 last game, and could have another big game tonight without Bosh on board to check him. All Pacers starters reached double figure scoring in game two except for Roy Hibbert, who must take advantage of his matchup against Joel Anthony and Ronny Turiaf. Hibbert made the All-Star team this season and must be posting double doubles every game. He did grab 11 boards in game two, but the 8 points are unacceptable.
Both teams are seeking to get more from their benches. Miami received only 11 points off the bench in game two and Indiana got only 16. Both teams rely heavily on their starters but have decent benches that must contribute.
The Heat also must get more from Mario Chalmers who went 2 of 10 from the floor and missed all four of his threes.
”Defense and rebounding,” Indiana coach Frank Vogel said. ”We built this team, we started talking about smash-mouth basketball, about winning the war in the trenches, and that’s with defense and rebounding. That’s what I grew up watching Eastern Conference basketball being like. We understand offense is going to come and go, especially like a great defensive team like these guys … but we’re pretty good, too.”
Defense and rebounding, as Vogel said, will be the name and game of this series. Both teams are a lot more evenly pitted than most realize, especially when Miami is missing Bosh. Miami Heat coach viewed the game as a “welcome to the playoffs.” If it just started now, the Heat may be in for a rude awakening. Indiana could easily sneak away with this series at this point.
Miami Betting Trends:
The Heat are 36-36 ATS this season and 35-32 ATS as a favorite. They are 9-10 ATS vs Central Division opponents and 21-22 ATS vs teams with winning records. They are 0-3 ATS vs teams when the total is between 180 and 184.5. The total has gone OVER I n27 of the 71 Heat games this season hand it has gone UNDER 5 of the last 6 in which the Heat were road favorites of 3 points or less. It has gone OVER 6 of 19 games in which the Heat have played Central Division opponents.
Indiana Betting Trends:
The Pacers have gone 36-37 ATS this season and 15-11 ATS as an underdog. They are 12-12 ATS vs Southeast division opponents and 4-3 ATS in the playoffs. They are 10-7 ATS vs teams with winning records in the second half of the season. The total has gone OVER in 36 of the 71 Pacers games and it has gone OVER in 14 of the 26 as an underdog this season. It has gone OVER In 3 of the last 5 in which it was a home game with a total between 180 and 184.5
