The defending champion Miami Heat will look to avoid a potential back breaking 1-3 series deficit this evening when they meet the Spurs at the AT&T Center in San Antonio. Tonight’s Game 4 showdown between the Heat and Spurs is scheduled to get underway at 9:00pm ET on ABC. 2013 NBA Finals Odds at offshore bookmaker 5Dimes have San Antonio listed as a -1 against the spread and -118 moneyline favorite ($118 wins $100). The total in this evening’s contest is set at 187 points and the Heat are drawing a -102 line to even the series at two games apiece.

 

San Antonio stunned Miami last Thursday, grabbing a 1-0 series lead with a 92-88 win at the AmericanAirlines Arena, but the Heat, per usual, came back strong following their unexpected loss.

 

Miami blistered the Spurs 103-84 in Game 2, improving their ‘off a loss’ 2013 playoff record to 5-0. The Heat’s recent trend of alternating wins and losses continued on Tuesday evening, though, as San Antonio opened a can on LeBron James and company at the AT&T Center.

 

The Spurs, spurred by the play of shooting guard Danny Green and reserve point guard Gary Neal, routed Miami 113-77 to take a 2-1 series lead. Green and Neal combined for 51 points after knocking down a ridiculous 13-of-19 from beyond the arc.

 

The Heat, meanwhile, could get nothing going against San Antonio’s defense as they shot just 40.8 percent for the game. James finished the night with 15 points on 7-of-21 shooting while Dwyane Wade tallied a team high 16 points on a 7-for-15 shooting effort. Game 2 hero Mario Chalmers scored zero points after going 0-for-5 from the field; he also had a team high four turnovers in 20 minutes of play.

 

It would seem out of character for Miami to come out flat this evening, but it also seems unlikely the Heat embarrass the Spurs at the AT&T Center. San Antonio’s defense has effectively neutralized James the last two games, if it does so again, the Spurs should own a commanding 3-1 lead.

 

Notable Trends: The Spurs are 7-1 straight up and 6-1-1 against the spread in their last eight games as a home favorite with a spread between 0 and 3.5 points (Under was 6-2 in those same eight games).

 

 

Miami Heat +1 (-110), Over 187 (-110), -102 (Moneyline)

 

San Antonio Spurs -1 (-110), Under 187 (-110), -118 (Moneyline) 

 

What pro basketball bettors need to know about betting a prop on Thursday (6/13/13) - a free pick from Pregame.com's Steve Fezzik, with Vegas Runner and Bryan Leonard.