Heat Pacers Spread at Miami -2: NBA Playoffs Game 3
Carrie Stroup here with your Heat Pacers spread for Game 3 of the 2012 NBA Playoffs.
Sportsbook.ag Line & Total: Miami -2 & 180.5
Opening Line & Total: Indiana -1 & 182
After upsetting the Heat in Game 2, the Pacers try to take the series lead when the teams play at Indiana for Thursday’s Game 3.
Miami looked lost without PF Chris Bosh, who is likely out for the entire series because of an abdominal strain. With Tuesday’s 78-75 defeat, the Heat fell to 4-6 SU without Bosh on the floor this season. Indiana won the rebounding battle 50-40 and held the three Heat big men (Udonis Haslem, Ronny Turiaf and Joel Anthony) to a combined seven points and 12 rebounds in 60 minutes of action. The Heat have scored a mere 90.0 PPG on 40.5% FG in their past five playoff games, and are a mediocre 19-16 (15-20 ATS) on the road this season. The Pacers defense has been impeccable in the 2012 playoffs, allowing a paltry 82.6 PPG on 40.9% FG. Not only is Miami 6-18 ATS after a close loss (6 points or less) in the past two seasons, but the team is also 0-9 ATS in road games after making 20% or less of its three-pointers in two straight contests since 1996.
Miami was done in by poor shooting from all over the court on Tuesday, making just 34.6% FG, 1-of-16 threes and 20-of-29 FT (69%). The Heat have been resilient this season though, going 14-7 (11-9-1 ATS) following an SU loss. The Pacers beat Miami 105-90 the last time these teams met in Indiana, but the Heat had won each of the previous four trips to the Midwest by an average of 11.0 PPG. The Pacers have been extremely tough at home this year, going 25-11 (17-19 ATS) and allowing just 92.4 PPG (42.6% FG) to visitors of Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
LeBron James logged much of his time at the power forward position, and admitted that playing underneath was a lot more physically demanding than being on the perimeter. But despite the physical demands, he and Dwyane Wade combined for 33 of their team’s 37 points in the second half of Game 2. James finished the game with 28 points (10-of-22 FG), nine rebounds (four offensive), five assists and a whopping six steals. Wade chipped in 24 points, six rebounds, four assists and two blocks, but made just 8-of-22 FG and is shooting 35.6% FG for this series. PG Mario Chalmers was much worse at 2-for-10 from the floor, and is 2-for-13 FG (0-for-5 threes) with more fouls (10) than points (nine) in this series. After averaging 11.8 PPG (42% threes), 4.4 APG and 4.0 RPG in the first round of the playoffs, he’s due for a breakout game. Two other key Heat players are also struggling this series. SF Shane Battier has just five points and eight rebounds in 57 minutes, while starting PF Udonis Haslem has only six points (2-of-9 FG) and nine rebounds.
The Pacers’ two bigs, C Roy Hibbert and PF David West combined for 24 points, 21 rebounds (six offensive) and five blocks in the Game 2 victory. SG Paul George also attacked the glass with 11 rebounds to go along with 10 points, three steals and a game-high +20 rating. SG George Hill, who averaged just 9.6 PPG during the regular season, has scored in double figures in all seven playoff games, tallying 15 points and four boards on Tuesday. But leading scorer SF Danny Granger is capable of much more than he has shown this series. With 11 points on 5-of-14 FG in Game 2, he has just 9.0 PPG on 25% FG this series, a far cry from his 21.4 PPG on 41% FG in the first round versus Orlando. PG Darren Collison provided a spark off the bench in Game 1 with 10 points and six assists, but scored just six points with zero assists in 17 minutes in Game 2.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
