Game 6 between the Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers takes place on Thursday night back in Indiana, as the Heat look to close out the series and move on to the Eastern Conference Finals. The game is scheduled for an 8:00 pm start time and it will be televised live on ESPN. Currently the odds have Miami favored by 3.5 points with the total sitting at 182 points for the contest.
Free Analysis: After pounding the Pacers by 32 points at home in Game 5, the Heat look to close out their conference semifinal series tonight at Indiana. The Heat dominated every facet of Game 5, outshooting the Pacers 61% FG (56% threes) to 34% FG (29% threes), outrebounding them 49-35 and outscoring them 46-26 in the paint. James continues to own this series with 30.4 PPG (50% FG), 11.8 RPG, 6.0 APG and 2.6 SPG. He has also been extremely efficient on the road in these playoffs with 30.3 PPG (46% FG), 9.3 RPG and 5.3 APG. Since an atrocious Game 3 (5 points, 2-of-13 FG), SG Dwyane Wade has played brilliant basketball with 29.0 PPG (58% FG), 6.0 RPG and 4.0 APG in his past two contests. But it wasn’t just the two superstars taking over Games 4-5 for Miami. PG Mario Chalmers, who stands just 6-foot-2, had a team-high 11 rebounds on Tuesday, while adding eight points and three assists. Since starting out the series with nine points on 2-of-13 FG in Games 1-2, Chalmers has 13.7 PPG, 6.7 RPG and 3.7 APG in his past three contests. SF Shane Battier had been a non-factor in the first four games of the series (2.0 PPG on 2-of-19 FG, 2-of-12 threes), but he poured in 13 points on Tuesday night, making 4-of-5 threes in the process. Miami is 19-13 SU (15-17 ATS) as a road favorite, and also 29-13 SU (20-22 ATS) with just one day of rest.The heat will be without Udonis Haslem, who has been suspended for this game. Indiana is 26-12 SU at Bankers Life Fieldhouse this season, but only 4-3 (SU and ATS) as a home underdog, plus 27-12 SU (19-20 ATS) on one day’s rest. The Pacers could go with a much smaller lineup on Thursday depending on whether or not Granger or West are healthy enough to log a lot of minutes. The duo combined for just 20 points and five rebounds in 52 minutes of action in Game 5. The pressure to score inside falls mostly on C Roy Hibbert, who was just 3-of-10 from the floor on Tuesday. For the series though, Hibbert has been strong with 12.4 PPG, 12.2 RPG and 2.6 BPG. Indiana’s backcourt also played poorly in Game 5 as SG George Hill and SG Paul George combined for just 17 points on 6-of-18 shooting, including 1-of-9 from three-point land. The Pacers have scored just 86.8 PPG on 39% FG in this series.
Free Pick: Despite playing without Bosh and Halsem, I still expect the heat to close out the series tonight in easy fashion. after scoring just 75 points in each of game 2 and game 3, the Heat have really upped their offense and have now scored 108 ppg in their last 2 games and they know they can win here after beating Indiana on this floor by 8 points in game 4. The pacers defense that had been so good this year, has been torn apart in the last 2 games and even though Granger and West are probable for this game, i don't expect them to be 100% and that will certainly hurt at the defensive end, plus at the offensive end as well. Indiana hasn't been great on offense this year and they just won't cpome up with enough points to keep this one close. Miami has all the momentum tight now and will close out this series with an easy win.
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NBA Free Picks: Miami Heat at Indiana Pacers - Game 6 Betting
What NBA bettors need to know about Pacers at Heat Game 6 - Including a free best bet from Pregame.com's Bryan Leonard & host Scott Spreitzer!