Heat facing elimination at home in Game 6

Published on Tuesday, 6/18/13, at 9:05 a.m. Eastern.

By Brian Edwards

Miami responded with authority in its only previous elimination game in these playoffs. That was Game 7 vs. Indiana and the Heat dealt out woodshed treatment.

This time around, Miami trails San Antonio 3-2 after losing two of three games at AT&T Center. The good news is that Game 6 is back in South Florida and, if necessary, Game 7 will also be on Miami’s home court.

For tonight, most books have installed Miami as a seven-point favorite with a total of 191.5. The Spurs are +280 on the money line (risk $100 to win $280).

For first-half wagers, Miami is favored by four with a total of 95.5.

Greg Popovich reached into his bag of tricks for Game 5, inserting Manu Ginobili into the starting lineup for the first time all season. Ginobili responded with a monster game, setting the tone early with his aggressiveness on both ends of the floor. Ginobili finished with 24 points and 10 assists to lead the Spurs to a 114-104 win as 1.5-point home underdogs.

Tony Parker scored 26 points, while Tim Duncan added 17 points and 12 boards. Danny Green added 24 points and smashed the NBA Finals record for 3-pointers with six more.

Sportsbook.ag has updated the series price to Miami -130, San Antonio +110. The website has LeBron James as the -110 ‘chalk’ to win Finals MVP honors. Danny Green has the next-shortest odds at +140 (risk $100 to win $140).

Miami hasn’t lost back-to-back games since dropping a 92-90 decision at Portland on Jan. 10.

The ‘under’ cashed in Games 1 and 2 at Miami, but the ‘over’ hit all three games at San Antonio. The total for tonight is the highest of the series. The previous high was 190 in Game 1.

Tonight’s Game 6 is scheduled to tip at 9:05 p.m. Eastern on ABC.

Click here for my pick on tonight’s side.