Powered by their dynamic duo, Anthony Davis and LeBron James led the Lakers to a Game 1 win over the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals. Photo from @SportsCenter (Twitter).
- Lakers blast Miami in Game 1 of the NBA Finals
- The Heat got dinged up in the opener, which could affect this series
- Read below for odds, analysis and our Game 2 prediction
It was a Game 1 demolition in the NBA Finals, as the LA Lakers crushed the Miami Heat.
Miami not only needs to regroup, but get some good news on the health front, as no less than three key players were injured in the opener.
With that in mind, the Heat vs Lakers odds show there’s some major confidence in the Purple and Gold getting it done on Friday night.
Heat vs Lakers Game 2 Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami Heat | +8 (-110) | +275 | O 216 (-110) |
| Los Angeles Lakers | -8 (-110) | -340 | U 216 (-110) |
Odds from FanDuel taken September 30. Game 2 tip-off is Friday at 9pm
Davis, Lakers Overwhelm Heat
It was an impressive Lakers effort on almost every front in a 116-98 win. Offensively, Anthony Davis was a dynamo, pouring in a game-high 34 points, nine rebounds, five assists and three blocks. AD was relentless in the paint, consistently battling inside and wearing out the Heat frontline. He earned every one of his 10 free throw attempts, making them all.
HIGHLIGHTS: @AntDavis23 goes off for 34 pts, 9 reb and 3 blk in his #NBAFinals debut. pic.twitter.com/M9Y60qycag
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) October 1, 2020
LeBron James played the perfect wingman, chipping in with 25 points, 13 rebounds and nine dimes. It was James’ 50th Finals game.
The Lakers’ bench was a major factor, particularly early on, when LA was down 13 in the first quarter. Kyle Kuzma, Rajon Rondo, Alex Caruso and Markieff Morris all made key shots and plays to help the team gain their footing.
Markieff Morris hits the three-pointer. LeBron now two assists shy of a triple double.
pic.twitter.com/CeCcvNsBli— The Hoop Network (@TheHoopNet) October 1, 2020
That 13-point deficit? It was wiped out by an eventual 75-30 run that lasted into the third quarter, putting this game into extended garbage time.
And of course, that defense. Los Angeles limited the Heat to just 31.4% shooting from behind the arc and 42.7% from the field. And that super-sized lineup again owned the glass, outrebounding the Heat 54-36.
Miami Limping Into Game 2
The injuries came fast and furious for the Heat, and even if they weren’t competitive in this one, they could be challenged to break 100 points a game this series if their best players are in any way limited.
Hope Jimmy Butler is OK.
pic.twitter.com/tBKTqj997P
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) October 1, 2020
All-star Jimmy Butler suffered a sprained ankle, which had him noticeably limping. While Butler was able to continue, he again rolled the ankle in the fourth quarter when he stepped on Davis’ foot on a drive.
Goran Dragic — the Heat’s leading scorer in the playoffs — left the game with a non-contact foot injury. He was forced to leave and did not return. While the Miami staff had no further updates to his status, the ESPN broadcast said he was seen limping heavily.
Goran Dragic, who has led the Heat in scoring during the playoffs, is doubtful to return with a foot injury. pic.twitter.com/qjjcUXuk70
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) October 1, 2020
And all-star Bam Adebayo suffered a left shoulder strain in the third quarter. He was forced to the locker room and did not return. As the primary big on a roster short on frontcourt size, it was already going to be a challenge dealing with the Lakers’ big men with Adebayo. It will be disaster if he’s forced to miss any time.
Bam Adebayo apparent injury pic.twitter.com/4WyfOKCgLo
— Main Team (@MainTeamSports) October 1, 2020
The Heat’s trademark ability to grind and keep games close never had a chance to materialize, as LA dismantled their defense. The Lakers were 15-for-38 from three-point range, an impressive 39.5% clip. LA’s ability to attack Miami’s defense also resulted in a 27-14 free throw advantage for the Lakers.
Only an extended garbage time run made the score even close to respectable, as Miami at one point trailed by as many as 32.
What’s the Best Bet?
Miami’s defense will have to take away something (anything, really) to have a chance at evening this series.
We’ll learn more tomorrow about their injuries, but losing any one of their three players will be tough to recover from. This is the first time the Heat have trailed in the playoffs, which will give us the first look at how Erik Spoelstra plans to make adjustments.
Does he beef up the frontcourt and throw out Kelly Olynyk with Adebayo? Does Meyers Leonard crack the lineup?
Expect the Heat to be better prepared next time out, but I’d lean towards LeBron and AD continuing to be the best players in this series. While their team shooting may regress to the mean, LA’s dynamic duo will still be able to elevate their games. Coupled with LA’s overall size advantage, the Lakers present matchup problems no one in these playoffs has yet been able to solve.
The pick: Lakers -8 (-110)
Having worked in and around sports since 1997, Eric is truly a knowledgable expert. The two-time journalism grad specializes in all things NBA and NFL. From TSN.ca to CTV’s Olympic Broadcast Consortium, Eric’s work has appeared in local and national publications alike.
source https://casinonewsblogger.com/heat-vs-lakers-nba-finals-game-2-odds-and-picks/
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