NBA Betting News and Notes Wednesday, May 15

Wednesday's NBA Playoff Action: What Bettors Need to Know
By Covers.com

Chicago Bulls at Miami Heat (-14.5, 182)

Miami leads series 3-1.

The Miami Heat are one win away from advancing to the Eastern Conference finals and can seal the deal Wednesday when they host the beleaguered Chicago Bulls in Game 5. Miami has won the last three games by an average of 23.3 points and routed the Bulls 88-65 in Monday’s game to take a 3-1 series lead. Chicago appeared worn down and shot a franchise playoff-low 25.7 percent from the field in a poor effort.

The 65 points were also a franchise postseason low for a squad that has been hindered by the absences of forward Luol Deng (complications from a spinal tap) and point guard Kirk Hinrich (calf). Former MVP Derrick Rose (knee) never opted to suit up despite being medically cleared two months ago, and Nate Robinson finally hit the wall with a 0-for-12 shooting effort in Game 4. “We have nothing to lose and everything to gain,” Robinson said after Game 4. “Everyone said we wouldn’t win a game. We got one. We believe we can win the series.” Miami coach Erik Spoelstra refuses to believe Chicago is spent and done mounting a threat. “You don’t want to give this team second life,” Spoelstra said. “They’re far too dangerous for that type of mentality because they just continue to grind and they compete and we know that. We respect that.”

ABOUT THE BULLS: Chicago’s porous Game 4 showing bottomed out with a nine-point third quarter, the lowest output in the franchise’s playoff history. The starting five was a combined 11-of-50 from the field as the Bulls scoring average in the series dropped to 82.5. “We got a little discouraged and we can’t let that happen,” center Joakim Noah said afterward. “We did not play very well. We did not execute very well. We can’t put our heads down. We know we can compete with this team.” Veteran guard Richard Hamilton saw his first action in the series with 11 points in 22 minutes. Hamilton had been banished deep on the bench despite all the injuries.

ABOUT THE HEAT: Miami’s dominance in the series has been done with minimal contributions from standout guard Dwyane Wade. A badly bruised right knee has severely diminished Wade’s ability to play at a high level and he is averaging only 11.3 points after scoring just six points on 3-of-10 shooting in Game 4. “It’s just frustrating at times, but just try to do what you can,” Wade said. “Sometimes it feels good, sometimes it doesn’t. You can’t predict it.” Wade’s condition is one of the reasons why the Heat would like to finish the series Wednesday and give Wade time to rest the knee while awaiting the start of the conference finals.

TRENDS:

* Bulls are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
* Heat are 17-5 ATS in their last 22 games overall.
* Under is 10-1 in Bulls last 11 games following a double-digit loss at home.
* Bulls are 1-4 ATS in the last 5 meetings.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Heat have won each of their last five closeout playoff games by double digits.

2. Chicago’s 65 points in Game 4 were the second fewest Miami has allowed in a playoff game.

3. Miami F LeBron James is averaging 23.8 points, 7.8 assists, seven rebounds and 2.3 steals in the series.

Memphis Grizzlies at Oklahoma City Thunder (-4, 185)

Memphis leads series 3-1.

The Memphis Grizzlies have never been to the Western Conference finals. Memphis can get there for the first time if it can defeat the host Oklahoma City Thunder in Wednesday’s Game 5 of their conference semifinal series. The Grizzlies have won three straight games after a Game 1 loss while taking advantage of an Oklahoma City squad missing Russell Westbrook. The Thunder lost three consecutive games just once during the regular season and never lost four straight.

Forward Kevin Durant has tried to carry the Thunder without Westbrook (knee) and he will need three more yeoman efforts if Oklahoma City is to overcome its deficit. “One thing about Kevin, he’s going to come back and give everything he has,” Thunder coach Scott Brooks said. “He’s not an excuse guy. He’s not going to blame anything on nobody, other than put the pressure on himself to perform.” Memphis lost a seven-game series to the Thunder two seasons ago and isn’t about to let up with Oklahoma City on the brink of elimination. The Grizzlies overcame a 17-point deficit to win Game 4 in overtime. “We are a team that just plays hard and doesn’t quit,” Memphis coach Lionel Hollins said afterward. “We scratch, we claw.”

ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES: Center Marc Gasol was named NBA Defensive Player of the Year last month but somehow only earned a second-team spot on the All-Defensive team selected by the NBA coaches that was released Monday. Gasol seemed to draw motivation from the snub by blocking six shots to go with 23 points and 11 rebounds in Game 4. Gasol is in the midst of an outstanding series, scoring 20 or more points in all four games while averaging 21.8 points and 8.8 rebounds. Power forward Zach Randolph had his best game of the series with 23 points and 12 rebounds and the Grizzlies are hard to beat when Randolph and Gasol both get double-doubles in the same game. Point guard Mike Conley is averaging 19.3 points but has made just one-third of his shots in three of the four games.

ABOUT THE THUNDER: Power forward Serge Ibaka is coming off his best game of the series and has two straight double-doubles after shooting 6-for-22 over the first two games. Ibaka had 17 points and 14 rebounds in Game 4 to help take some scoring pressure off Durant. “We need his scoring, we need his shooting and I thought this last game was good,” Brooks said. “Hopefully we can get it again.” Durant is averaging 30.8 points and 11 rebounds in the series but was just 10-for-27 in Monday’s loss. Durant faded down the stretch and Derek Fisher’s 3-pointer was Oklahoma City’s lone points of the overtime.

TRENDS:

* Grizzlies are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 road games.
* Thunder are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 home games.
* Under is 21-7-2 in Thunder last 30 overall.
* Road team is 8-3 ATS in the last 11 meetings.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Oklahoma City averaged 105.7 points during the regular season but is averaging just 91 in this series.

2. Memphis has won an NBA-leading 11 games when trailing by at least 17 points since the start of the 2009-10 campaign.

3. Thunder PG Reggie Jackson is averaging 13.3 points in the series as Westbrook’s replacement in the starting lineup.

Wednesday's NBA Tips
By Brian Edwards
VegasInsider.com

Bulls at Heat

Most betting shops opened Miami (73-17 straight up, 52-38 against the spread) as a 14-point favorite for Game 5 with a total of 182. As of early Tuesday night, there had not been much line movement with just a few spots moving to 14.5 and/or 182.5. Gamblers can take the Bulls to win outright for an enormous 15/1 payout (risk $100 to win $1,500). For first-half bets, the Heat is favored by 8.5 with a total of 92.

Miami has won three straight games since dropping Game 1, including a pair of victories in the Windy City. The Heat won a 104-94 decision in Friday’s Game 3, but the game was much closer than the final score indicated. Miami backers collected a fortunate spread cover as an eight-point road favorite.

In Monday’s Game 4, it was clear that the short-handed Bulls were running on an empty gas tank. The Heat took a 3-1 series advantage by dealing out an 88-65 clubbing as an eight-point road ‘chalk.’ The ‘under’ (185) was an easy winner. LeBron James was the catalyst for winners with 27 points, eight assists, seven rebounds and a pair of steals. Chris Bosh added 14 points, six boards and four blocked shots.

Chicago (50-43 SU, 40-53 ATS) would not have advanced past Brooklyn without the stellar play of Nate Robinson, the diminutive reserve guard who had posted double-digit scoring efforts in seven consecutive games going into Game 4. However, the increased minutes have taken their toll on Robinson, who missed all 12 of his shots from the field and was held scoreless on Monday.

Although he made only 3-of-14 shots from the field, Carlos Boozer led the Bulls with 14 points and 12 rebounds in Game 4. Jimmy Butler added 12 points, while Taj Gibson finished with 10 points and nine boards in only 21 minutes of playing time.

Chicago’s Kirk Hinrich (calf), Luol Deng (illness) and Derrick Rose (knee) will remain ‘out’ for Game 5.

Miami’s Dwyane Wade is ‘probable’ with soreness in his knee. Wade scored only six points on 3-of-10 shooting from the floor in Game 4.

Miami has been a double-digit ‘chalk’ 26 times this year, compiling a mediocre 10-16 spread record.

Chicago’s only two double-digit underdog situations this season came in Games 1 and 2 of this series at Miami. The Bulls won outright (93-86) in Game 1 before getting spanked by a 115-78 count in Game 2.

In eight head-to-head meetings between the Heat and Bulls this season, totals have been an overall wash (4-4). Miami owns a 5-3 record both SU and ATS in those eight encounters.

The ‘under’ is 48-44-1 overall for the Bulls, but they have seen the ‘over’ go 25-22 in their road assignments.

The ‘over’ is 44-43-3 overall for the Heat, 25-18-2 in its home games.

Tip-off on TNT is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Eastern.

Grizzlies at Thunder

Most books opened Oklahoma City (65-27 SU, 52-38-2 ATS) as a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 185. As of early Tuesday night, most books had adjusted OKC to a four-point ‘chalk’ with the total slightly increased to 185.5 at The Mirage and William Hill properties. Bettors can back the Grizzlies on the money line for a +160 return (risk $100 to win $160). OKC is favored by 2.5 with a total of 92.5 for first-half wagers.

Memphis (63-29 SU, 55-35-2 ATS) took a 3-1 series lead by capturing a 103-97 overtime win as a 4.5-point home favorite in Monday’s Game 4 at The Grind House. The 200 combined points went ‘over’ the 185-point total, but it was a winner in regulation when the game was knotted at 94-94.

Lionel Hollins’s squad trailed by as many as 17 points in the first half but was able to trim the deficit to eight by halftime. The Grizz outscored the Thunder 9-3 in the extra session. Mike Conley Jr. scored a team-high 24 points for the winners. Zach Randolph finished with 23 points and 12 rebounds, while Marc Gasol tallied 23 points, 11 boards and six blocked shots. Tony Allen chipped in with 10 points, six rebounds and three steals.

In the Game 4 defeat, Kevin Durant scored a game-high 27 points to go with seven rebounds and seven assists. Kevin Martin added 18 points from off the bench. Serge Ibaka had his best performance of the postseason with 17 points, 14 boards and three blocked shots. Reggie Jackson finished with 15 points and eight dimes.

Memphis is 7-2 ATS in the last nine head-to-head meetings with OKC. The Grizz have taken the cash in all four games of this series, while totals have been a wash (2-2).

Since getting thumped in Game 1 against the Clippers to open the postseason, the Grizzlies have covered the number in nine straight games.

The ‘under’ is 53-38-1 overall for Memphis, 24-21-1 in its road assignments. The ‘over’ is 4-1 in Grizzlies’ five road assignments in the playoffs.

The ‘under’ is 50-40-1 overall for the Thunder, 23-22-1 in its home games. The ‘under’ is on an 18-6 run in OKC’s last 24 games.

Most books have the updated series price as Memphis -700 (risk $700 to win $100), Oklahoma City +500.

TNT will have the telecast at around 9:40 p.m. Eastern.

2013 NBA Playoffs

Miami shot 50.7/51.4/60.0/50.0/48.5% in five games they beat Chicago this year, 46.2/48.1/39.7% in three losses. Miami won 15 of its last 16 games overall; they're 7-1 in playoffs, with no wins by less than 10 points. Team that led at halftime won all seven series games so far this season (one game was tied). Chicago has been mentally tough in playoffs, they compete like hell, but reality is their 3rd string PG starts now- he was 0-12 last game. Bulls scored 15-18-9 points in first quarter of Game 4; very hard to believe this series doesn't end tonight.

Memphis won seven of last eight games, losing by hoop in Game 1; last six series games were decided by six or less points. Durant was 10-27 in OT loss Monday, when OC squandered 17-point 1st half lead. Thunder PG Westbrook is out for this series, cannot forget that, so you have subs at a key position trying to bear starters. Oklahoma City hasn't made more than 43% of its shots from floor in any game this series. Memphis is 7-3-1 vs spread last 11 times they were an underdog. 18 of the last 24 Thunder games stayed under the total.

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