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Sports Interaction Staff
Heat vs. Lakers Game 5 Prediction: NBA Odds, Point Spread
In search of the franchise’s 17th championship, the Lakers come into Friday’s Game 5 as 7-point favourites on the NBA odds, with an opening total of 216.
NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Despite both of these teams having some of the best offensive superstars in the league, it’s their defensive capabilities that have been on display recently, as the under has gone 6-2 in the last eight meetings between these teams.
The Lakers are 12-5 in their last 17 games against opponents with winning straight up records, while they are 2-5 against the spread in their last seven NBA Finals games. The Heat are 14-4 ATS in their last 18 overall games, including 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games against opponents with a winning home record. The under is 9-2 in Miami’s last 11 games against opponents with winning SU records.
Miami Heat
Jimmy Butler fell one assist shy of his second triple-double of the series in Game 3, finishing with 22 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists. Butler had some backup with the return of Bam Adebayo, who missed Game 2 and Game 3 with a strained neck. Adebayo put up 15 points and seven rebounds in his return, but Miami needs more secondary scoring if they want to get back in this series.
The Heat only received 13 points from the bench. With the exception of Butler, everyone on Miami needs to step up in Game 5 if they want to stop LeBron James from winning his fourth NBA title.
Los Angeles Lakers
After uncharacteristically poor performances by both players in Game 3, LeBron James and Anthony Davis had bounce-back games on Tuesday. LeBron finished with 28 points (game-high), 12 rebounds and eight assists, while Davis chipped in 22 points, nine rebounds and four assists. Davis’ defensive contributions in guarding and limiting Jimmy Butler’s opportunities shouldn’t be overlooked as he was a thorn in Butler’s side most of the night.
The role players also stepped up with solid secondary scoring from Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (15 points) and Danny Green (10 points), while Kyle Kuzma and Markieff Morris each had nine points.
MIA
LAL