The Miami Heat cast their first jagged stone at the Lakers’ Goliath in Game 3, landing a damaging head blow. Down 2-0, Heat scraped and clawed their way to a convincing 115-104 victory. Miami’s All-Star forward Jimmy Butler gave the Heat a Herculean effort. The Heat beat the spread, snatched on a juicy moneyline, and the game barely finished under 220 total points.
Our sportsbook shows an over/under of 218½ for Game 4, and I smell a shootout. Current NBA odds list Los Angeles as 7½-point favorites, and the fear is creeping into LeBron James’ fragile psyche. Butler’s performance has shaved a couple of points off the spread, and the Heat prepares to engulf L.A. in flames.
Heat vs Lakers Game 4 Pick
Butler’s Epic Performance Lands Him In Elite Company
Butler made NBA history by being only one of three players to produce a 40-point triple-double in The NBA Finals. Jimmy Buckets dropped 40 points while pulling down 11 boards and dishing 13 assists. The only other players to accomplish this historic feat were LeBron in 2015 and Jerry West in 1969.
Current NBA Finals MVP odds list Butler with an enticing +750 moneyline. Placing a $10 flyer bet on Butler to pull this off isn’t crazy, and earns you $75 when it hits. Butler really stepped up as Miami’s leader, during a game that saw Lakers’ big man Anothony Davis played in the shadows.
Bron Bron played his standard superstar game, scoring 25 points while grabbing 10 rebounds and handing out 10 assists. However AD, LBJ’s fellow pillar of strength, got into foul trouble early and was ineffective. Davis had been the most dominant player on the court up until Game 3, at which point he pooped the proverbial bed.
AD scored 15 points over 33 uninspiring minutes of game action (inaction?). Davis often looked sluggish, and turned the ball over as many times (5) as he rebounded it. Even star players have bad games but one has to wonder if AD has enough grit. Does he fold when the wins don’t come easily? Is Davis capable of hanging in when it’s uncomfortable when he finds himself in a savage dogfight? We shall see.
Adebayo Holds The Keys To The Kingdom For Miami
Miami All-Star Bam Adebayo’s neck strain seems to be improving every day. Adebayo is officially listed as questionable for Game 4, but you know he’ll play once given the green light. The two Finals games that Adebayo has missed are more than he’s missed over the last two years. CBS did a nice piece on this topic: Bam Adebayo injury update: Heat star says he’s day-to-day with neck strain, hopes to play in Game 4 vs Lakers
Adebayo is a gamer and represents a fierce warrior that the Heat desperately need. Hopefully, we’ll get to see Bam Bam banging around down low and contesting Lakers’ dunk attempts in Game 4. Los Angeles needs to suffer trial by fire.
Heat vs Lakers Game 4 Predictions
Both the Lakers and Heat realize that Game 4 is pivotal, and will likely determine the outcome of the series. Butler is playing out of his mind for Miami, and both Kelly Olynyk and Tyler Herro have stepped up as well. Olynyk and Herro each scored 17 points in Game 3, and they both looked confident and driven. Herro even snarled at the Lakers.
If Adebayo can play, even in a limited capacity, it has the potential to disrupt AD’s game further. Perhaps Bam Bam can keep The Brow from getting on track at all in Game 4, essentially derailing his series. The Heat are gaining momentum and confidence precisely when they need it most. Expect Miami to play their hearts out, and to not only win against the spread but to win outright. Welcome to the Lake of Fire.
