Pacers are 7-point ‘dogs for Game 7 at Miami
Published on Monday, 6/3/13, at 12:55 p.m. Eastern.
By Brian Edwards
Indiana and Miami have played six times in the Eastern Conference finals, but they have settled absolutely nothing. These teams collide in South Beach tonight for Game 7 with a trip to the NBA Finals on the line.
Most betting shops have installed Miami as a seven-point favorite with a total of 181. Gamblers can take the Pacers on the money line for a +300 return (risk $100 to win $300).
For first-half bets, the Heat is favored by four with a total of 189. For first-quarter wagers, Sportsbook.ag has Miami as a 2.5-point ‘chalk’ with a total of 45.
Indiana forced Game 7 by capturing a 91-77 win as a 2.5-point home underdog in Saturday’s Game 6. The 168 combined points fell ‘under’ the 183.5-point total.
Paul George enjoyed another sensational performance, producing 28 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three steals. Rob Hibbert was a monster in the paint again, finishing with 24 points and 11 boards.
Following a miserable Game 5, George Hill responded Saturday and scored 16 points and dished out six assists. Lance Stephenson also played better, hitting the glass to grab 12 rebounds.
But the Pacers most inspiring effort came from David West, who shook off a high fever to contribute 11 points and 14 boards.
LeBron James had 29 points, seven rebounds and six assists, but he got no help at all with the exception of a pair of Mike Miller 3-pointers that gave the Heat some life in the fourth quarter. They sliced the deficit to four but would get no closer.
Chris Bosh has been an absolute disaster in this series. He has only 22 rebounds for a 3.6 RPG average. In the last three games, Bosh hasn’t scored in double figures once and is averaging a meager 6.3 points per game. He made only 1-of-8 shots from the field in Game 6.
Sportsbook’s update futures look like this: Heat -130, Spurs +130 and Pacers +800.
My NBA record is 126-91-1 (58%, +27.2 units) for the season. Check out my Game 7 winner by clicking here.
TNT will provide television coverage at 8:30 p.m. Eastern.
