All the Miami Heat need now is a win to secure a spot in the second round of the 2020 NBA Playoffs. The Indiana Pacers have their backs against the wall, but at least they’re still alive, albeit with a slim chance of overcoming their 0-3 series deficit. Will the Pacers extend the series by one more game? Or will the Heat finish Indiana via a sweep?
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Betting Preview for the Indiana Pacers vs Miami Heat NBA Playoffs Round 1 Game 4 on August 24, 2020
Where: Walt Disney World, Orlando
When: Monday, August 24, 2020, 6:30 PM ET
Line: Indiana Pacers (+7.5) vs. Miami Heat (-7.5) – view all 2020 NBA lines
TV Broadcast: TNT
Betting on the Indiana Pacers (+7.5)
Regular Season Record: 45-28
Despite Malcolm Brogdon’s huge day, the Pacers succumbed once again to Miami on Saturday, 124-115. The former Rookie of the Year award winner scored 34 points and dished out 14 assists with four 3-pointers. TJ Warren pumped out 23 points, while Victor Oladipo managed 20 points. The Pacers are getting ample contribution now from Oladipo and Warren after their shaky start to the series, but the Pacers need more offensive production — or at least better showing on the other end of the floor. Miami went 43 of 52 from the free-throw line in Game 4. Indiana can complain about the referees’ unfairness with their whistles, but it’s also a sign that the Pacers got at least a bit lazy on defense. Myles Turner can’t be charged with being lackadaisical on defense, though, as he had three blocks and 12 rebounds on top of his 15 points. That said, he wasn’t able to hold Bam Adebayo the same way he did in Game 2, as the Heat big man scored 22 points on Saturday.
The under is 7-3 in the Pacers’ last 10 games.
Betting on the Miami Heat (-7.5)
Regular Season Record: 44-29
With Adebayo bouncing back and their outside shooting still on point, the Heat were able to take care of business in Game 3. As mentioned earlier, Adebayo had 22 points on Saturday, which was a great improvement from the seven-point production he had in Game 2. It was a luxury for Adebayo to have so much space to roam near the rim because of Miami’s hot shooting from deep. Miami sank 13 of 33 attempts from 3-point range for 39.4 percent accuracy. Goran Dragic finished with 24 points with five threes, while Tyler Herro got up from the bench and scored 20 points with three triples. Indiana is trying to engage Miami in a 3-point contest shootout in the series, but so far, it’s clearly the Heat who are winning the battle. In fact, Miami is second in the playoffs with a 42.7 percent clip from behind the arc. The Heat have two players in Duncan Robinson and Dragic, who are hitting 3.7 threes per game in the series on over 47 percent accuracy.
The Heat are 5-5 against the spread in their last 10 games overall.
Writer’s Prediction
The Heat win, 108-105.
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