Heat vs. Spurs Betting Line has Miami as Rare Dog: NBA Fantasy Updates
Carrie Stroup here with your Heat vs. Spurs betting line. Be sure to claim your FREE $100 BET when opening an online wagering account at Sportsbook.com here. We do have some Fantasy updates for Miami and San Antonio below as well.
Sportsbook.ag Line & Total: Spurs -1.5 & 198
The top two teams in the NBA square off on Easter Sunday when the Western Conference-leading Spurs host a Heat team with the best record in the league.
Miami's 27-game win streak ended on Wednesday night, but the team bounced back with a resounding 108-89 thumping at New Orleans on Friday. The Heat shot 61% from the floor (52% threes) in that win over the Hornets, increasing their offensive numbers to 104.8 PPG, 52% FG and 45% threes over the past nine games. San Antonio's 104-102 win over the Clippers on Friday made the team 10-3 SU in the month of March, but the non-cover saddles the club with a 1-7 ATS record in its past eight contests. The Heat have won each of the past three contests (all at home), including a 105-100 victory on Nov. 29 in Miami when Gregg Popovich left most of his star players at home -- Tony Parker, Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Danny Green. However, the Spurs are 12-1 SU (9-3-1 ATS) when hosting the Heat since 1997, crushing them 125-95 the last time they met at AT&T Center on March 4, 2011.
Miami leads the Eastern Conference with 103.5 PPG, paces the entire league with a 49.4 FG clip and ranks second in the NBA in long-range shooting (39.3% threes). This team is also strong on the defensive end, holding teams to 95.5 PPG (7th in NBA) and 44.1% FG (8th in league) on 35.0% threes (10th in NBA). SF LeBron James (26.9 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 7.3 APG) continues to be the best player on the planet, scoring at least 22 points in each of his past 10 games, where he's averaged 29.2 PPG (56% FG, 43% threes), 8.4 RPG and 8.3 APG. His numbers are similar when facing the Spurs in his career, where he's averaged 27.9 PPG (51% FG), 7.1 RPG and 6.4 APG in 17 games. SG Dwyane Wade (21.3 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 5.0 APG) has also enjoyed facing the Spurs with 24.9 PPG, 5.9 APG and 4.9 RPG, but he's also committed a troubling 4.4 TOPG in 14 career games against them. Wade has scored in double-figures in 58 straight games, but is averaging just 16.2 PPG, despite 48% FG, over his past five contests, failing to score 20 in any of these games. PF Chris Bosh (16.5 PPG, 6.7 RPG) has also had a rough stretch with just 12.6 PPG on 40% FG with 5.8 RPG in the past five contests. But Bosh has played exceptionally well in this series over the past four seasons, scoring 24.8 PPG (55% FG) and 11.8 RPG in these six meetings with the Spurs. PG Mario Chalmers (8.5 PPG, 3.4 APG) missed Friday's game with an ankle injury, but he could return on Sunday. He hasn't done much against San Antonio in eight career meetings though, scoring 7.1 PPG (45% FG) with 3.8 APG. Both PG Norris Cole (12 points, +10 rating) and SG Ray Allen (six points, +20 rating) gave Miami great minutes off the bench on Friday.
San Antonio ranks fourth in the league with 104.3 PPG on a hefty 48.7% FG (2nd in NBA) and 38.3% threes (3rd in league), set up by an NBA-best 25.2 APG. The Spurs also rank among the top defenses in the league in all three categories, allowing 96.5 PPG (11th in NBA), 44.2% FG (9th in league) and 34.1% threes (6th in NBA). The one area of weakness for this club is rebounding, as it ranks 22nd in total rebounds (40.9 RPG) and 19th in rebounding margin (minus-1.3 RPG). PG Tony Parker (21.0 PPG, 7.6 APG) has been incredible after missing eight games with a sprained ankle, averaging 21.8 PPG (53% FG) and 7.8 APG in four games since returning. He's also been solid against the Heat in his career, averaging 15.5 PPG on 52% FG with 5.6 APG in 19 meetings. PF Tim Duncan (17.6 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 2.7 BPG) has been playing outstanding basketball in his past six games with 24.7 PPG, 12.2 RPG and 3.3 BPG. He is coming off a 34-point explosion in Friday's win over the Clippers, and has averaged 18.9 PPG and 11.6 RPG in 25 career games versus the Heat. SG Manu Ginobili (11.9 PPG, 4.6 APG) has been a complete non-factor since Parker's return to action, scoring just 4.8 PPG on 7-of-25 FG (28%) in the past four games. SF Kawhi Leonard (11.6 PPG, 5.6 RPG) had been thriving in the first three games of Parker's return with 14.7 PPG (59% FG) and 7.0 RPG, but scored just four points (2-of-6 FG) in 32 minutes on Friday. SG Danny Green (10.7 PPG, 3.1 RPG) has been streaky all season, and currently on another roller-coaster run with 9, 15, 9, 20 and 6 points over his past five games. C Tiago Splitter (10.5 PPG, 6.1 RPG) has played well recently, averaging 11.2 PPG and 6.4 RPG in his past five contests.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
NBA Fantasy Updates – Heat vs. Spurs:
LeBron James heats up from deep
News: Heat forward LeBron James put on a quite a shooting display during Friday's contest against the Hornets. James scored 36 points in the 108-89 win, hitting six consecutive 3-pointers in less than six minutes during the first half. He finished with seven made treys -- one off his career high -- in the victory and also added six assists, four rebounds and two steals to his stat line, while logging 32 minutes of game action.
Analysis: James was feeling it Friday night as he scored 28 of his points in the first half. The 28-year-old continues to post eye-popping numbers on a nightly basis as he entered his latest tilt averaging 28.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, 8.6 assists, 1.9 steals and 1.6 blocks on 55 percent shooting from the field. There really isn't much left to say, other than to leave James active in every Fantasy format in the universe.
Ginobili leaves with hamstring trouble
News: Spurs guard Manu Ginobili was forced to leave Friday's contest against the Clippers due to a right hamstring injury. Ginobili's right hamstring tightened up on him in the first quarter of the game and immediately went back to the locker room. He was ruled out for the remainder of the contest.
Analysis: This could a huge loss for the Spurs as hamstring injuries can be very tough to recover from. Even if his injury ends up being something minor, the Spurs aren't going to take any chances with the veteran, so we would expect him to be sidelined for most, if not all, of Fantasy Week 23 (April 1-7). Fantasy owners should keep an eye on his status moving forward. Ginobili can be considered viable starting option in all formats when healthy.
Source: CBS Fantasy Sports
