NBA Finals Game 4 betting preview: Heat have life
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Game 4 of the NBA Finals tips off on Tuesday night. Can the Heat will their way to another victory, or do the Lakers take a commanding 3-1 series lead?
Here's what you need to know ahead of the star-studded clash.
Miami Heat vs. Los Angeles Lakers (-7.5, 218.5)
The Lakers were five-point favorites in Game 1 and north of nine-point chalk in both the previous two games. After Miami won outright as a 9.5-point 'dog in Game 3, oddsmakers split the difference and made Los Angeles a seven-point favorite.
The case for Miami
Two words: Jimmy Butler.
The Heat always had the luxury of balanced scoring, but the seasoned vet took over. The straw that stirs the drink for Miami will go down in NBA Finals lore following a 40-point triple-double that helped the Heat avoid the dreaded 0-3 hole.
Overall, the offense looked comfortable. Rookie Tyler Herro and Kelly Olynyk both added 17 points for a unit that shot better than 50% from the field for the first time all series.
The case for Los Angeles
The Lakers officially used their mulligan following a disappointing Game 3.
Anthony Davis was held to just 15 points as he dealt with foul trouble. LeBron James played second fiddle to Butler, finishing with 25 points and a minus-4 rating. Overall, nearly half of the Lakers' offensive output came from the bench.
However, the Lakers have to feel OK about where they're at. The Heat had their night in Game 3, and yet it still felt like L.A. was in control at times.
The Heat had multiple double-digit leads throughout the game that were far from safe. Every Heat surge was seemingly matched by the Lakers, who couldn't make one final push in the fourth.
Feel free to buy low on L.A.'s offense in this spot. The unit had gone over the team total in each of the previous four prior to Game 3.
Notable betting trends
- Miami is 4-0 ATS the last four Tuesday games
- Miami is 10-3 ATS the last 13 playing on one day of rest
- Miami is 3-9 ATS the last 12 following a double-digit win
- Miami is 5-2 to the over the last seven overall
- Miami is 28-13 to the over the last 41 following an outright win
- Los Angeles is 7-3-1 ATS the last 11 overall
- Los Angeles is 1-4-1 ATS the last six playing on one day of rest
- Los Angeles is 7-1 to the under the last eight NBA Finals games
- Los Angeles is 20-8 to the under following a loss
(Odds source: theScore Bet).
Alex Kolodziej is a betting writer for theScore. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 12 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AJKolodziej.