Lakers, Heat Still Rolling on Offense

Things are looking up for the Miami Heat as they look to even the NBA Finals at two wins apiece. Center Bam Adebayo has been upgraded to questionable with a neck strain that has kept him out of the past two games, and his return for Tuesday’s Game 4 against the Los Angeles Lakers could be a pivotal factor in the Heat rallying back from an early 2-0 series deficit.

Sportsbook Odds Analysis

The Lakers opened at -5, but with the Heat still facing injury question marks, that line has risen to -7.5 in most spots. The total has also gone up, from 217.5 to 218.5.

Los Angeles News & Notes

The Lakers – and Anthony Davis in particular – were far from their best in Game 3, falling behind by double digits early and then struggling mightily in the second half. Davis was shockingly clumsy in the Sportsbook quarter, racking up four turnovers before exiting due to two early fouls. He played 33 minutes and wound up with just 15 points and five rebounds in the defeat.

Davis isn’t the only Lakers superstar who will be looking to atone for his Game 3 struggles. LeBron James was his usual efficient self with 25 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, but he also had eight turnovers after losing the ball just twice over the first two games of the NBA Finals. If you can find a turnovers prop for LeBron, take the UNDER – he should be much better Tuesday.

Miami News & Notes

Adebayo is itching to return, even proclaiming after Game 3 that he would be back in action Tuesday. He has yet to be cleared and goes into Game 4 as questionable but is reportedly feeling much better. He had eight points and four rebounds in 21 minutes in the series opener but was a force in the Eastern Conference final with 21.2 points, 11.0 rebounds and 5.2 assists vs Boston.

The news isn’t nearly as promising for starting point guard Goran Dragic, who is dealing with a torn plantar fascia in his left foot and is reportedly in a lot of pain. He told reporters his chances of playing Tuesday are low, meaning the Heat will once again need to rely on a starting backcourt of Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson, who shot a combined 10-for-30 in Game 3.

Betting Pick: OVER 218.5 (-110)

The teams came oh so close to an OVER cash last time out, and with both teams having room for improvement on the offensive end, we see them getting there in Game 4.