Heat vs Knicks Betting Preview: Miami Seeks to End Series
Knicks Favored at Home to Extend Series
The Heat vs Knicks betting preview sees New York favored by 4 points at home in Game 5. The total on the game is 209.5. The Heat will be looking to wrap-up the series, while the Knicks are trying to force a Game 6.
The Knicks were the better team during the regular season, finishing three games in front of the Heat in the NBA East standings. But you would be hard-pressed to tell that now. Miami has played solid this series and deserves to be ahead 3-1.
The Knicks outshot Miami in Game 4, but the Heat held a 44-35 rebounding advantage and made four fewer turnovers. Out-rebounding New York was huge for Miami, as the Knicks have been one of the better rebounding teams in the league. Miami attempted nine more field goals than the Knicks and made three more shots. New York had two more free throws.
Jimmy Butler led the Heat in scoring with 27 points, but he had plenty of help on the scoreboard. Bam Adebayo added 23 points, Max Strus added 16 and Kyle Lowry scored 15. The Heat are tough to beat when getting well-balanced scoring like that.
New York was led by the game-high 32 points of Jalen Brunson. RJ Barrett scored 24 and Julius Randle netted 20 points before he fouled out. No other player was in double figures for New York.
Miami led 56-48 at halftime and the Knicks were able to pull within two points in the third quarter. But Miami used back-to-back 3-pointers in the final two minutes of the quarter to extend the lead back to 10. New York would get no closer than six points the rest of the way.
Hart’s Foul Troubles Hurt Knicks
The Knicks brought Josh Hart off the bench, but he finished with just four points in 23 minutes before fouling out. It was the fewest number of minutes Hart has seen in the playoffs.
The Knicks’ depth isn’t that great to begin with. Losing your best player off the bench is going to hurt and that was the case Monday night.
Heat Bench Outperforms N.Y. Again
The Heat vs Knicks betting preview points out the Heat had a massive edge in bench play once again. Miami’s reserves outscored New York’s 32-10 and had a collective +14 rating. The Knicks’ bench combined to go -24.
Randle Up-And-Down for New York
Randle did some good things for the Knicks. He also did some not-so-good things on the court. His 20 points and nine rebounds are what you expect from the New York forward. But six turnovers and six fouls aren’t. Randle did play 39 minutes before fouling out, so his playing time wasn’t really affected, although he played a little timid. He finished with fewer than 10 rebounds for the first time this series.
Handicapping Game 5
The Heat vs Knicks betting preview shows the Knicks are in a good historical situation with the NBA spread tonight at New York -4. Home favorites who lost their last two games on the road have gone 30-10 straight-up since the start of the 2015-16 playoffs. These teams are 27-13 (67.5%) against the point spread.
The Knicks have played better at home during the season and have been solid at home in the playoffs. New York does have the one loss to the Heat at home in the opening game of the series.
The Knicks have their backs against the wall, but have to follow the trends and take the Knicks -4 to extend the series.
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