Should bettors take the Pacers?
LAS VEGAS, NV (The Spread) – The Heat will be trying to close out the Pacers on Wednesday night, but will it be as easy as many think?
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The Miami Heat will be trying for a back-door sweep of the Indiana Pacers and I have to think that the Pacers stand strong in this game and at least make it go 6 games.
Looking back at the last 18 matchups between the Pacers/Heat, the home team is now 15-3 SU. In this series here, the home team is 3-1 SU and could possibly be 4-0 SU if it wasn’t for the late 4th quarter collapse in Game 2. In Game 3, the Pacers had a lead the majority of the game until Ray Allen dropped bombs in the 4th quarter to get the cover and the win.
A Game 4 blowout by the Miami Heat was not a big surprise to me as they had the momentum going into this game. Now things are going back to Indiana where the Pacers will play with all their heart to keep postseason hopes alive. This is still the #1 defensive team in the NBA and they are currently a 2 point home dog at most sports books. In handicapping this game, I have to feel like the Pacers bounce back in convincing fashion being back at home as home court as been such a big advantage in this series.
Also, there has been criticism from Paul George about the lack of fouls called on the Miami Heat. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the officials give the Pacers a little home-cookin in this game as well. It will take a big game from Roy Hibbert after he disappeared again in Game 4. Hibbert and the Pacers have the talent to bounce back in this game and they have done so recently going 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a SU loss of more than 10 points. From a betting standpoint, I will take an initial position on the Pacers to play with pride and respect in front of their home crowd to extend this series. Miami will come into this game a bit relaxed and feeling cocky after winning three straight games vs. the Pacers. It is hard to win four straight games vs. any team in the NBA, especially in the playoffs, and I have the feeling that Indiana guts this one out somehow-someway Wednesday night.
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