When Bovada opened its preseason NBA championship odds, the Miami Heat and
Los Angeles Lakers were Nos. 1 and 2, respectively, on that list. And neither
team has done much to change things as they meet tonight on national television
(TNT, 8 p.m. ET) in one of the season’s most anticipated games. The Heat are
5.5-point home favorites on Bovada’s NBA odds.
Get all your NBA basketball odds at Bovada’s online
sportsbook.
The big story heading into this matchup is the
status of Heat guard Dwyane Wade. He is not expected to play –
but hasn’t been ruled out yet – because of a sprained ankle that kept him out of
Tuesday’s 120-98 win over San Antonio. It was the fourth game Wade has missed
this season and Miami has won all four, with both LeBron James
and Chris Bosh raising their games big time.
Officially Wade is questionable but he couldn’t practice Wednesday so don’t
expect to see him.
Miami (9-4) trailed the Spurs by 17 points in the
first half on Tuesday but blew off the doors in the third quarter, outscoring
San Antonio 39-12 – James outscored the Spurs himself by five points and the
Heat shot 68 percent in the second half. James and Bosh combined for 63 points.
The Heat lead the NBA in scoring at 107.2 ppg.
The Lakers (10-5) begin a
two-night swing through Florida and are just 1-4 on the road. They won at home
on Monday night, 73-70 over Dallas despite just 14 points from Kobe
Bryant. He had scored at least 40 in the previous four games. Kobe
hasn’t fared well vs. LeBron in his career, losing the past four matchups (two
when James was with Cleveland). And the Lakers are 1-6 in their past seven at
Miami. Bryant leads the NBA in scoring this season while James is No.
2.
L.A. is 0-5 ATS in past five as a road underdog. Heat are 1-4 ATS in
past five vs. Western Conference. The underdog is 0-6 ATS in past six
meetings.
It's a short season. Play Harder. Bet on the NBA at
Bovada!
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