Lakers Won't Waste A Second Shot At NBA title

After both teams had narrow escapes in Game 5, the Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers will play at least one more game in the 2020 NBA Finals. The Heat pulled out a 111-108 victory despite giving the Lakers a wide-open look from 3-point range that would have put them ahead; Los Angeles lost the game but was fortunate to not lose forward Anthony Davis to a serious leg injury.

Sportsbook Odds Analysis

The Lakers opened as 4.5-point favorites, which would match the lowest spread of the NBA Finals since Game 1 – but it's now sitting at -5 at the majority of sportsbooks. The total started at 217.5 but quickly dipped all the way down to 214.5.

LA Lakers News & Notes

Davis avoided serious injury after he went down awkwardly following a rebound attempt and immediately clutched at his leg. It was feared to be an Achilles injury at the time, but miraculously Davis returned a short time later and wound up playing 42 minutes in the Game 5 defeat, finishing with an outstanding stat line of 28 points, 12 rebounds, three steals and three blocked shots.

Davis is probable for Game 6, and we're expecting him to challenge the OVER on every one of his major player props. Davis hasn't been slowed at all by the return of Heat center Bam Adebayo from a neck strain, and with the Lakers getting a second crack at the NBA title – which would be Davis' first – he's in line for 40+ minutes and will be motivated to make the most of them.

Miami News & Notes

The Heat might need to rely more heavily on the 3-point shot after connecting on a 42.4-percent clip in Game 5 – and ironically, they very nearly died by the deep shot as Danny Green missed an open 3 with time winding down Friday and the Lakers down by a point. Duncan Robinson was the long-range hero in Game 5, hitting seven 3's en route to a 26-point showing.

For the Heat to force a seventh and deciding game, they'll likely need Jimmy Butler to be a prolific scorer yet again – and with point guard Goran Dragic still doubtful with a torn plantar fascia he suffered in Game 1, Butler will need to be the facilitator, as well. He's averaging 11.5 assists over the past four games and is a good bet to go OVER on his dime total Sunday night.

Betting Pick: LA Lakers -5 (-110)

Los Angeles has yet to play two bad games in a row in the 2020 playoffs – and with the NBA championship in the building Sunday, they'll show why they're the class of the NBA with a comfortable Game 6 victory.