First-round Results: New Jersey | Miami

SECOND-ROUND SERIES RESULTS (HOME team in CAPS)

Miami wins 4-1 SU (3-2 ATS)
OVER 4-1

5/16/06 - Game 5: MIAMI 106, New Jersey 105 (New Jersey +6.5 | OVER 192.5)
Recap | Boxscore
SUMMARY: The Nets led 33-24 after the first quarter and held a 12-point lead in the second quarter before the Heat rallied back for their biggest postseason comeback win ever.  New Jersey pulled had the chance to win the game but Dwyane Wade stole an inbounds pass from Jason Kidd with a second left to preserve the victory.  A 54-54 deadlock at halftime helped set a nice OVER pace, and the teams didn't disappoint in the second half.

5/14/06 - Game 4: Miami 102, NEW JERSEY 92 (Miami +4 | OVER 188.5)
Recap | Boxscore
SUMMARY: A high-scoring first half between the teams put the game on an OVER pace, with Miami leading 54-48 at the break.  The Heat continued to lead throughout the second half, as the Nets got to within three points on a few occasions but couldn't get any closer.

5/12/06 - Game 3: Miami 103, NEW JERSEY 92 (Miami +2.5 | OVER 188.5)
Recap | Boxscore
SUMMARY: The Nets led 81-80 with just over 4 1/2 minutes to go when Miami's Dwyane Wade took over.  The Heat went on a 9-0 run to take an 89-81 lead with 3:13 remaining and New Jersey wouldn't get closer than six points the rest of the way.  Wade scored half of his 30 points in the last 4 1/2 minutes, and 15 points were scored in the final minute by both teams to push the total OVER, including two free throws by Miami center Shaquille O'Neal.

5/10/06 - Game 2: MIAMI 111, New Jersey 89 (Miami -8 | OVER 187)
Recap | Boxscore
SUMMARY: In a game completely opposite of Game 1, Miami outscored New Jersey 25-4 in the first 5:49 and led 105-81 with six minutes left before emptying the bench.  The Nets suffered their second-biggest postseason defeat ever but scored enough to push the total OVER.

5/8/06 - Game 1: New Jersey 100, MIAMI 88 (New Jersey +4.5 | UNDER 189.5)
Recap | Boxscore
SUMMARY: The Nets jumped out to a 38-21 lead after the first quarter and led by as many 28 points in the third before Miami went on an 18-3 run to pull within 92-83.  The Heat never threatened New Jersey (or obviously the spread), making the only exciting betting outcome the OVER/UNDER total.  Jason Collins missed a free throw for the Nets with 41 seconds remaining, and there were six missed shots from the field combined by both teams in the last two minutes that kept the game UNDER.

REGULAR-SEASON RESULTS

New Jersey wins 3-1 SU (4-0 ATS)
UNDER 3-1

4/2/06 - NEW JERSEY 90, Miami 78 (ATS winner: New Jersey -5 | UNDER 185)
2/4/06 - NEW JERSEY 105, Miami 92 (ATS winner: New Jersey +3.5 | OVER 192.5)
12/23/05 - New Jersey 95, MIAMI 88 (ATS winner: New Jersey +7.5 | UNDER 193.5)
11/7/05 - MIAMI 90, New Jersey 89 (ATS winner: New Jersey +3.5 | UNDER 197)

REGULAR-SEASON SERIES RECAP: Ironically, the only meeting Miami won came without Shaquille O'Neal in the lineup.  O'Neal averaged just 17.7 points in the three games against the Nets he did play while New Jersey's Nenad Krstic struggled, averaging just 7.7 points, including a dismal 1-for-10 shooting performance.  The O'Neal-Krstic matchup could be the key in this second-round series, and it's important to note that both players far from dominated.  The player who did dominate was Nets star Vince Carter, who averaged 38.5 points in the four meetings, totaling 70 points combined in the second half of two of the games.