Knicks-Heat Spread – Game 5 NBA Playoffs
Carrie Stroup here with your Knicks-Heat spread for Game 5 of the 2012 NBA Playoffs. Qualified new customers can get up to $250 in FREE CASH at Sportsbook here.
Sportsbook.ag Line & Total: Miami -11 & 183
Opening Line & Total: Heat -10.5 & 182.5
With their 11-year NBA playoff game win drought finally over, the Knicks try to send their first-round series back home with a win on Wednesday night in Miami.
Carmelo Anthony led his team back from a pair of double-digit deficits in Game 4, scoring 41 points. But the injury bug bit the Knicks again with PG Baron Davis suffering a horrific knee injury that will keep him out at least 12 months. New York also will not have starting PG Jeremy Lin, who had been a possibility to return from his knee injury, which leaves floor-general duties to Mike Bibby, who hit a huge three-pointer to break a tie with 1:23 remaining on Monday. But now the series shifts to Miami, where the Heat are 22-3 in their past 25 games, and have beaten the Knicks in eight of the past nine home meetings. Miami has outscored teams by 11.5 PPG at AmericanAirlines Arena this season, including beating New York by 43 points in the two home games in this series. The Heat are 14-5 ATS in home games following an ATS defeat this season, and as good as New York has been at home under Mike Woodson, the Knicks coach is 2-14 ATS in road playoff games in his career.
SF Carmelo Anthony is putting up big numbers with 26.0 PPG and 8.3 RPG in the series, coming off his best game by far on Sunday: 41 points (15-of-29 FG), six rebounds, four assists and one turnover. But he’s still shooting just 39.8% FG on 2-of-13 threes for the series. PF Amar’e Stoudemire has been the butt of many jokes after his glass-punching injury cost him Game 3, but he’s had two straight strong performances with 19.0 PPG and 8.5 RPG since a meager nine points and five rebounds in Game 1. SG J.R. Smith shot much better in Miami (15.0 PPG, 46% FG, 4-of-11 threes) than he did at home (9.5 PPG, 24% FG, 1-of-13 threes) this series, so he might not mind the shift in venues. Bibby is scoring just 4.3 PPG with 1.8 APG in his 20.5 MPG in the playoffs, but has made 5-of-10 threes over the past three games. C Tyson Chandler continues to underwhelm on the offensive end with just 6.0 PPG in the series, but he has pulled down 10.3 RPG in the past three contests.
SF LeBron James is having a huge series with 27.5 PPG (49% FG), 5.8 RPG and 5.3 APG. But after committing just four turnovers in two home games, he has made 13 miscues in the past two contests. SG Dwyane Wade has 21.5 PPG on 55% FG for the series, but he made just 4-of-11 free throws in Sunday’s loss. His defense was sparkling though, with four steals and three blocks. PF Chris Bosh has seen his points fluctuate from 9 to 21 to 9 to 17, but he’s made a better effort on the glass with 9.5 RPG over the past two contests. PG Mario Chalmers shot a dreadful 2-for-10 FG on Sunday, but has still played well in this series with 12.3 PPG (40% threes) and 4.8 APG in his 36.0 MPG. He posted 15 assists and just four turnovers in the two home games this series.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
