The favored Miami Heat will be looking to take a 2-1 series lead in the NBA Finals on Sunday night as they play host to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the third game of the best-of-seven set.
LeBron James scored 32 points on Thursday night to lead the Heat to a 100-96 win in Oklahoma City to tie up the series at 1-1. The Thunder, the favorites in that contest, got 32 points from Kevin Durant.
The Heat broke their run of six straight ATS as an underdog in Game 2, while the aura of invincibity around the Thunder at home was also broken.
The Heat currently sports a record of 46-20, and have posted a corresponding betting slate of 32-34 ATS. The Thunder are 47-19 and 35-31 ATS. Betting totals have seen the Heat post a 25-39-2 OVER/UNDER record this season, while the Thunder have gone 31-35 against the number.
View Oklahoma City vs Miami Odds and Stats.
Betting Line:
The Heat opened as 4.5-point favorites at most sportsbooks tracked by Odds Shark, including Sportsbook, with the total listed at 194 at Sportsbook Friday (but was expected to move).
Power Rankings / Prediction:
The Odds Shark Power Rankings have the Heat at No. 5 and the Thunder at No. 2 heading into this contest. Handicapping models run by the computers at Odds Shark project a 106-104 result in favor of the Heat.
How They Match Up:
The game also pits Miami's No. 7-ranked offense, averaging 98.5 PPG, against a Thunder defense that ranks No. 17 at 96.9 PPG. The Heat field goal percentage has averaged 46.9% so far, less than the Thunder shooters have achieved on the year, 47.1% per game.
Defensively, the Thunder feature the league's No. 16-rated defense on the road, allowing 97.6 points per game. Miami, meanwhile, comes in at No. 9 in the league in scoring at home.
The Heat were a 100-96 Sportsbook in their most recent outing on the road against the Thunder. They covered the 5.5-point spread as underdogs, while the total score (196) made Sportsbooks of UNDER bettors. LeBron James poured in 32 points for Miami on Thursday, as they defeated Oklahoma City 100-96 at Chesapeake Energy Arena.
Oklahoma City Thunder Trends:
When playing on Sunday are 5-5
Before playing Miami are 6-4
After playing Miami are 6-4
After a loss are 7-3
Miami Heat Trends:
When playing on Sunday are 6-4
Before playing Oklahoma City are 8-2
After playing Oklahoma City are 5-5
After a win are 6-4
A few Thunder at Heat trends to consider:
Oklahoma City is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Oklahoma City's last 6 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Oklahoma City's last 5 games
Oklahoma City is 5-1-1 ATS in its last 7 games on the road
Miami is 9-2 SU in its last 11 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Miami's last 5 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Miami's last 8 games
Miami is 8-4 SU in its last 12 games
Next up:
Oklahoma City at Miami, Tuesday, June 19
Miami home to Oklahoma City, Tuesday, June 19
