Dallas Mavericks vs Miami Heat Pick

After a resounding comeback win in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, the Dallas Mavericks head to Miami for the final two games leading the series 3-2, just one game away from hoisting the Larry O’Brien Trophy for the first time in franchise history.

Date/Time: Sunday, June 12, 8:00 P.M. ET
Venue: American Airlines Center in Miami FL.
Broadcast: ABC

Dallas Mavericks at Miami Heat Betting Lines

Money Line: Miami -255, Dallas +215
Spread: Miami -5 ½
Over/Under: 187

Click Here for more Free Expert NBA Finals Game 6 Picks

The Dallas Mavericks should have their heads held high after their 112-103 victory over the Miami Heat in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.

The Mavericks ended the game on a 15-3 run to close out the game and force Miami to either defend its home court or go home with nothing to show for their playoff run.

Dallas ended the game shooting 57.9 percent from the floor, and nearly 70 percent during the first half.

Dirk Nowitzki scored 29 while leading Dallas to their third fourth-quarter comeback in as many wins in these NBA Finals after playing game four with a fever of 101.

JJ Barea scored 17 for the Mavericks getting the nod to start on 6-11 shooting, and Jason Terry came off the bench to score 21 on 8-12 shooting including 3-5 from the arc.

In all, Miami’s bench outscored Dallas’ bench 40-32, but Miami’s starters were the ones who threw the game for Miami–mainly Lebron James.

In the fourth quarter this series, James is averaging just 2.2 points, compared to his 8.2 in the Eastern Conference Finals. If Miami has a chance to win out the last two games of the series it will be because James steps up in the fourth quarter, when it really matters.

James did go for a triple-double, and Dwayne Wade scored 25 on 6-12 shooting and eight assists.

The fourth quarter has been trouble for Miami the entire series, giving up the lead in their three losses to Dallas, but Miami has shown throughout the series that they can outscore Dallas when they are rolling on all cylinders. Miami stormed out of the gate at the beginning of the fourth quarter with a 9-0 run, all inside scoring or free throws, but couldn’t hold onto the lead.

James has been a major letdown throughout the series, with atrocious streaks that have the rest of his team fighting to stay afloat.

In Games 4 and 5 combined, James has scored just two points in the fourth quarter collectively.

In contrast, Nowitzki has scored at least eight points in the fourth period in every game during these Finals.

The outside shooting was the nail in the coffin for Dallas, making four shots from more than 15-plus feet, and only two in the paint during their final quarter domination Thursday night. Miami on the other hand only made 1-5 from the same range.

The odds makers have the Miami Heat as a -5.5 point favorite with an over/under of 187.

Matt’s Free Prediction: Dallas – The Mavericks are surely on their high horse right now. Expect Dirk to lead his team to a victory and win the series. James has shown time again the he can’t show up in the fourth, and Nowitzki has shown the opposite–that he lives for the fourth quarter.

Need more help making your picks winners? Check out our top  handicappers.

Bet on the Dallas/Miami game: at BetOnline.com and get  25% in FREE Play Bonuses on EVERY Deposit – Guaranteed Liftetime Bonus.

Dallas Mavericks Betting Trends:

• Dallas is 18-4-2 ATS in its last 24 games
• The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Dallas’s last 6 games
• Dallas is 13-3 SU in its last 16 games
• Dallas is 2-3-1 ATS in its last 6 games

Miami Heat Betting Trends:

• Miami is 6-2-1 ATS in its last 9 games
• The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Miami’s last 6 games
• Miami is 18-6 SU in its last 24 games
• The total has gone OVER in 6 of Miami’s last 8 games at home

vs.

Miami Heat at Dallas Mavericks

Pointspread: Dallas -2
Over/Under: 185.5

Click Here for more Free Expert NBA Playoff Basketball Picks

The Miami Heat will look to regain the edge in this best-of-seven series on Thursday night when they tangle with the Dallas Mavericks in Game 5 of this NBA Finals matchup. Tip-off from the American Airlines Center in Dallas is set for 9 p.m. (ET) and the game will be broadcast nationally on ABC.

Miami suddenly finds itself in a dog fight for this year’s NBA title after letting another lead slip away in an 86-83 loss as a three-point road underdog in Tuesday night’s Game 4. The loss dropped the Heat to 5-4 on the road in these playoffs straight-up and 5-3-1 against the spread. The total stayed ‘under’ the 186.5 point total and has now stayed ‘under’ in six of their nine road games. They are 14-5 SU overall this postseason and 12-6-1 ATS. The total is 9-9-1 in the 18 games played.

LeBron James pulled disappearing act in Game 4 with just eight points on the night, his lowest total ever in the playoffs. It was especially evident in the fourth quarter with just one shot and zero points. Dwyane Wade picked up the slack for the second game in-a-row with a game-high 32 points after leading the team with 29 points in Sunday’s Game 3.

Miami shot 42.7 percent from the floor but was just 2-for-14 from three-point range. The Heat had the edge in rebounds (44-41) and points in-the-paint (40-38) but were outscored by the Mavericks’ bench 28-15. The bigger concern heading into this game is their inability to hold onto leads after blowing a 15-point lead in Game 2 and a nine-point lead with 10 minutes left to play in Game 4.

The resiliency of this Dallas team has whittled this series down to a best-of-three with both teams 1-1 at home, in what very well could have been a four-game Miami sweep. The Mavericks are now 14-5 SU and 13-4-2 ATS overall in the playoffs. They are 8-2 SU at home and 6-3-1 ATS. The total is 9-9-1 overall, but has stayed ‘under’ in four of its last five games.

Dirk Nowitzki continues to be the story for Dallas in this series. His late-game heroics to pull off one of the greatest comebacks in Finals history on Sunday night were followed up with 10 points and five rebounds in the fourth quarter of Tuesday night’s come-from-behind win. The Mavericks’ also received a huge effort from Jason Terry, who scored 17 points off the bench after getting shut down by James in Game 3. Shawn Merion was also able to take some pressure off of Nowitzki by shooting 7-for-12 from the floor and scoring 16 points.

The biggest thing that Dallas accomplished with this win was to put back a sense of doubt in the minds of the Heat that they have the capability to finish strong when the game is on the line. Miami clearly has the edge in talent in this matchup, but it has not been able to use it to put these games away when it had the chance.

Once again the momentum in this series has swung back in the Mavericks’ favor and they realize that with this being their last home game of the series, it becomes a must-win event. Stick with Dallas to use this momentum to its advantage to gain a 3-2 series lead heading back to Miami with another tight win.

The odds makers have the Dallas Maverics as a -2 point favorite with an over/under of 185.5.

Check out the latest NBA Basketball Finals Odds here.

Need more help making your picks winners? Check out our top  handicappers.

Bet on the Heat vs Mavs Game 5  at BetOnline.com and get  25% in FREE Play Bonuses on EVERY Deposit – Guaranteed Liftetime Bonus.

Miami Heat Betting Trends:

• Miami is 18-5 SU in its last 23 games
• Miami is 6-1-1 ATS in its last 8 games
• The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Miami’s last 5 games
• The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Miami’s last 5 games on the road

Dallas Mavericks Betting Trends:

• Dallas is 12-3 SU in its last 15 games
• Dallas is 1-3-1 ATS in its last 5 games
• Dallas is 17-4-2 ATS in its last 23 games
• The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Dallas’s last 5 games

vs.

It was a disappointing outing for the Dallas Mavericks in Game 3 of the 2011 NBA Finals on Sunday night. After rallying for a win on their home court in Game 2, it all came undone in the final 40 thirty seconds as the Dwyane Wade and the Heat stripped any chances for the Dirk Nowtizski’s Mavs to take command of the series.

Date/Time: Tuesday, June 7, 9:00 P.M. ET
Venue: American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas
Broadcast: ABC

Miami Heat at Dallas Mavericks Betting Lines

Money Line: Dallas -145, Miami +125
Spread: Dallas -3
Over/Under: 186 ½

Click Here for more Free Expert NBA Playoff Basketball Picks

However, if not for the all out epic performance by Wade, the game could have easily gone the opposite way.

Wade picked up right where he left off in Game 2, finishing the first half with 19 points in Game 3 before going on to end the game with 29 points and 11 rebounds, en route to a close 88-86 victory on Sunday night.

Now the Heat are in the driver’s seat, and will head into Game 4 in Dallas on Tuesday with a 2-1 lead in the series and history on their side. In the past, the winner of Game 3’s with the series tied 1-1 since the Finals switched to the 2-3-2 format, has gone on to win the championship a whopping 11 out of 11 times.

But there was a whole lot more meaning to Wade’s performance. Besides leading the team in points, there was his relentless driving layups, winning the loose balls, a barrage of timely shots– such as scoring seven of Miami’s final nine points–and well turned-out plays on defense that annoyed the heck out of Dallas’ Nowitzski, all game long.

Nowitzski did however break free just enough to drain 34 points, including 12 straight down the stretch—including a difficult  jumper that tied the contest at 86.

As it has been in the previous two games, it would once again come down to execution, with Chris Bosh hit the winning shot with just under 40 seconds remaining.

However, the Mavericks were able to win the battle of the boards, 42-36, with Nowitzki picking up the slack for a sidelined Brendan Haywood, nabbing 11 rebounds. They were also able to win the bench battle 25-19, but lost the turnover fight, giving up 14 that turned into 19 Miami points.

Coming into this series, the Mavericks’ bench had to outplay the Heat to have a chance– they have not. In fact, it has gotten worse, as starters — Jason Terry (15 points), Shawn Marion (10), and Jason Kidd (nine) — didn’t have a single point in the fourth quarter and made a total of just 17 buckets for the game.

The odds makers have the Dallas Mavericks as a -3 point favorite with an over/under of 186.5.

Check out the latest NBA Basketball Playoff Odds here.

Matt’s Free Prediction: Dallas – It’s do-or-die for the Mavericks. Both defenses have been excellent up to this point and Game 4 will be no different. I have to agree with the odds makers here, and although the Heat still has more top-end talent, Dallas has a chance to gain the edge with the next two games at home. They have yet to lose back-to-back games on their home wood. I think Nowitzski gets some much-needed help from his teammates in this one. The Mavs’ bench is due for a breakout game of its own, and with a steady defensive effort, look for the home team to win another low scoring at home.

Need more help making your picks winners? Check out our top  handicappers.

Bet on the Heat/Mavericks game: at BetOnline.com and get  25% in FREE Play Bonuses on EVERY Deposit – Guaranteed Liftetime Bonus.

Miami Heat Betting Trends:

• Miami is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games
• Miami is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road
• The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Miami’s last 7 games on the road
• Miami is 2-11 SU in its last 13 games when playing Dallas

Dallas Mavericks Betting Trends:

• Dallas is 11-3 SU in its last 14 games
• Dallas is 17-4-1 ATS in its last 22 games
• The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Dallas’s last 6 games
• The total has gone OVER in 4 of Dallas’s last 6 games at home

vs.

Miami Heat at Dallas Mavericks
Sunday, June 8, 2011 at 8:00 pm EST on ABC

Pointspread: Dallas -3
Money Line: Heat +125, Mavericks -145
Over/Under: 187

The 2011 NBA Finals shift from the American Airlines Arena in Miami to the American Airlines Center in Dallas this upcoming Sunday for Game 3 between the Heat and the Mavericks in this best-of-seven series that is knotted at one game apiece. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. (ET) and the game will be broadcast nationally on ABC.

We have ourselves a series after a dramatic 15-point comeback by Dallas in the final seven minutes of Thursday night’s Game 2 results in a 95-93 Miami loss as a 4.5 home favorite. The total ended as a ‘push’ against a closing line of 188 points. This was the Heat’s first loss at home in the playoffs after nine straight wins. They are 4-3 on the road both straight-up and against the spread and the total has stayed ‘under’ in four of the seven games.

Miami was sitting on a 15-point lead with a little over seven minutes to play in Game 2, but could do little to stop a 22-5 run by the Mavericks that turned a dominating 2-0 lead into this series into a best-of-five with Dallas holding the home-court advantage. Dwyane Wade led the Heat with 36 points and LeBron James added 20 points, but they could not hit the shots down the stretch to put this game away.

This series is coming down to a battle of the boards as Miami won the first round 46-36, but was outrebounded 41-30 in Thursday’s meltdown. Points off the bench have also been a factor as the Heat got 28 points from their reserves in Tuesday’s game but just 11 in Game 2.

Dallas’s series-saving rally raised its overall record in the playoffs to 13-4 SU and a very profitable 13-3-1 ATS. It is 7-1 SU at home this postseason and 6-2 ATS. The total has gone ‘over’ in five of its eight home games and is 9-7-1 overall.

The Heat now realize that you can only hope to contain Dirk Nowitzki as there is no way to shut him down. He scored a game-high 27 points in a losing effort in Game 1 and single-handedly willed his team to a victory in Game 2 with 24 points including the Mavs’ final nine of the game. Shawn Marion also came up big on Thursday with 20 points and eight rebounds and Jason Terry turned in another strong effort off the bench with 16 points and five assists.

Dallas shot just 37.3 percent from the floor in Game 1, but went 36-for-75 on Thursday night. Another key was its performance from the free-throw line; converting on 81 percent of its attempts. The biggest reason this series is now tied is the Mavericks’ ‘never-say-die’ approach to the game which was not case with the Heat’s last two opponents in the playoffs.

The odds makers have the Dallas Mavericks as a -3 point favorite with an over/under of 187.

Check out the latest NBA Basketball Playoff Odds here.

Prediction: Game 3 hinges on Miami’s ability to quickly put Thursday’s collapse behind verse Dallas’s ability to capitalize on this huge shift in momentum. The strongest play in Sunday’s game could be the ‘under’ as defense will continue to be the top priority for both teams, but stick with Nowitzki and the Mavs to use the home court to its full advantage to grab the 2-1 edge in this series.

Need more help making your picks winners? Check out our top  handicappers.

Bet on the Heat/Mavs Game 3: at BetOnline.com and get  25% in FREE Play Bonuses on EVERY Deposit – Guaranteed Liftetime Bonus.

Miami Heat Betting Trends:

• Miami is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
• Miami is 9-3 SU in its last 12 games on the road
• The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Miami’s last 6 games on the road
• Miami is 1-11 SU in its last 12 games when playing Dallas

Dallas Mavericks Betting Trends:

• Dallas is 17-3-1 ATS in its last 21 games
• Dallas is 11-2 SU in its last 13 games
• The total has gone OVER in 4 of Dallas’s last 5 games at home
• Dallas is 10-1 SU in its last 11 games at home

vs.

The Dallas Mavericks will look to even the series after a convincing defeat at the hands of the Miami Heat during game one of the NBA Finals before heading to Dallas for a three-game home stretch.

Date/Time: Thursday, June 2, 9:00 PM ET
Venue: American Airlines Center in Miami, FL.
Broadcast: ABC

Dallas Mavericks at Miami Heat Betting Lines

Money Line: Dallas +175, Miami -210
Spread: Heat -4 ½
Over/Under: 186

In the first game of the NBA Finals Miami won 92-84 over the Dallas Mavericks. Lebron James won his first Finals’ game in five tries scoring 24 points. The “big three” combined for 65 points in game one, and Dwyane Wade scored 22 points adding 10 rebounds.

Click Here for more Free Expert NBA Finals Basketball Picks

Miami’s bench outscored Dallas’ 27-17, and J.J. Barea, the Cinderella story from the Mavs’ first three series, finished the night with just 2 points on a measly 1-8 shooting night.

The Heat had the home crowd on their feet cheering from the beginning, and never let that much-appreciated morale booster go. The three-point shooting for the Mavericks, the same shooting that made the Lakers look old and past their prime, never came to materialize in game one, going 9-22 from the arc as Miami’s perimeter defense shadowed the long-range daggers that Dallas rode through the first three rounds on.

Dirk Nowitzki had 27 points for Dallas, tearing a tendon in the middle finger of his non-shooting hand.

James continued his fourth-quarter dominance with a late-game dunk that sent the crowd into a frenzy. That dunk, along with a late three from Wade, made Dallas’ hopes for the victory bleak.

Dallas seemed to have no answers for any of the “big three,” but it was Miami’s defense, the attribute that has carried them to these Finals, that showed big in game one. That turn-around jumper that Nowitzki dominated with so many times against the Lakers and Thunder, was consistently met with a double-team: and adjustment that neither team could produce, Miami did.

That defense come up big in the second half especially. The Mavericks had 51 points two minutes into the second half, but only managed 33 during the remainder of the game.

Despite this, the game was closer statistically than it seemed. Miami finished the game shooting .388% from the field, as Dallas finished with 37.3 percent on the night.

The aspect of the game that made the difference was the hustle and tenacity that the Heat showed all the way up to the buzzer when the clock showed zeros.

The Heat is 3-0 in Game 2’s this postseason. During those games, James has averaged 31 points, while Nowitzki is averaging 28.6 in Game 2’s as the Mavericks have gone 2-1. In the 2006 NBA Finals, these two teams were in opposite positions, and that time the winner of Game 1 won game two, only to lose the next four, that was Dallas.

In Game 2 this time around, the home crowd will again be pumped up, perhaps even more so than in game one, which will make it harder for Dallas to take away home-court advantage.

The odds makers have the Miami Heat as a -4.5 point favorite with an over/under of 186.

Check out the latest NBA Basketball Playoff Odds here.

Matt’s Free Prediction: Miami – Look for Game 2 to have the same outcome as Tuesday night, and Dirk’s torn tendon won’t help Dallas’ attempt to even the series at one a piece Miami’s “big three” will keep dominating on both ends of the courts, while maybe not shutting down Dallas, but holding them again under 90 points. This will easily propel Miami to a 2-0 series lead.

Need more help making your picks winners? Check out our top  handicappers.

Bet on the Dallas Mavericks/Miami Heat Game 2: at BetOnline.com and get  25% in FREE Play Bonuses on EVERY Deposit – Guaranteed Liftetime Bonus.

Dallas Mavericks Betting Trends:
Dallas is 10-2 SU in its last 12 games
Dallas is 16-3-1 ATS in its last 20 games
Dallas is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Dallas’s last 5 games when playing Miami

Miami Heat Betting Trends:
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Miami’s last 12 games
Miami is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Miami’s last 7 games at home
Miami is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home

vs.

Pointspread: Miami -4.5
Money Line: Dallas +170, Miami -200
Over/Under: 187

The 2011 NBA Finals get underway Tuesday night when the Dallas Mavericks and the Miami Heat square-off in Game 1 of this best-of-seven championship series. Tip-off is set for 9 p.m. (ET) and the game will be broadcast nationally on ABC.

Click Here for more Free Expert NBA Finals Picks

Dallas comes into this series well-rested after taking out Oklahoma City in five games in the Western Conference Finals. The clincher was a 100-96 victory last Wednesday as a 6 ½-point home favorite. The total stayed ‘under’ the 198 ½-point line. The Mavericks are 12-3 straight-up in the playoffs and have been profitable at 12-2-1 against the spread. Dallas is 5-2 SU on the road and 6-0-1 ATS. The total has gone ‘over’ in nine of its 15 games overall and in four of its seven road games.

The Mavs chances in this game could hinge of a fast start by it biggest weapon, Dirk Nowitzki. He is the main reason this team is in the Finals after averaging 28.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 2.7 assists a game while shooting 51.7 percent from the floor. Jason Terry has led the scoring off the bench with 17.3 points and 3.2 assists a game and Jason Kidd has been able to successfully direct the offense with a team-high 7.7 assists a game.

Dallas is averaging 99.7 points a game this postseason and has a 7.14 points-per-game advantage over its previous opponents. It is shooting 46.3 percent from the field and 38.8 percent from three-point range.

Miami ended all three of its playoff series in five games with wins over Philadelphia, Boston, and the No.1 seed Chicago Bulls. The Heat are also 12-3 SU this postseason and are 10-5 ATS. They are a perfect 8-0 SU at home and 6-2 ATS. The total has gone ‘over’ in nine of the 15 games overall and has gone ‘over’ in six of its eight home games.

LeBron James has been the story for Miami this postseason, especially in the series against the Bulls. He is putting up an average of 26 points a game to go along with 8.9 rebounds and 5.5 assists. The Heat will need a better effort from Dwyane Wade in this series after basically being a non-factor against the Bulls. He is still averaging 23.7 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 4.1 assists a game. Chris Bosh rounds out Miami’s ‘Big Three’ with 18.6 points and 8.9 rebounds. These three have accounted for close to 74 percent of the team’s points and 60 percent of the rebounds in these playoffs.

The Heat have outscored their opponents by an average of 4.66 points but are averaging 92.9 points a game. They have only scored 100 or more points three times in their 15 playoff games. Miami is shooting 44.3 percent from the field and 32.2 percent from three-point range. It is hitting 80 percent of its attempts from the free-throw line and pulling down an average of 42.1 rebounds a game.

Head-to-head, these teams met twice this season with the Mavs winning both to extend a winning streak that dates back to 2007 to 10 games. They won 106-95 in late November as a 2 ½-point home favorite and 98-96 as a 6 ½-point road underdog in late December. The total went ‘over’ in both games.

The odds makers have the Miami Heat as a -4.5 point favorite with an over/under of 187.

Check out the latest NBA Basketball Playoff Odds here.

Prediction: Stick with Dallas to extend the streak at least one more game as it shocks the Heat on the road to grab the early edge in this series.

Bet on the Dallas/Miami game: at BetOnline.com and get  25% in FREE Play Bonuses on EVERY Deposit – Guaranteed Liftetime Bonus.

Miami Heat Betting Trends:

• Miami is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games
• The total has gone OVER in 8 of Miami’s last 11 games
• The total has gone OVER in 5 of Miami’s last 5 games at home
• Miami is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home

Dallas Mavericks Betting Trends:

• Dallas is 16-2-1 ATS in its last 19 games
• The total has gone OVER in 5 of Dallas’s last 7 games
• Dallas is 10-1 SU in its last 11 games
• Dallas is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games on the road

Dallas Mavericks vs. Miami Heat

vs.

This Tuesday night at the American Airlines Arena the Western Conference Champion Dallas Mavericks begin their quest for an elusive NBA World Title against the Eastern Conference Champion Miami Heat in a best-of-seven series. The format for the Finals is a bit different than the earlier playoff series with the first two games in Miami, the next three in Dallas, and games six and seven back in Miami if needed.

Click Here for more Free Expert NBA Finals
Picks

BetOnline.com’s price on this series has the Mavericks at +150 to win it all and the Heat at -170. Dallas is listed as a is 4 ½-point road underdog in Game 1 with the ‘over/under’ set at 187. The odds that the series ends in four games are 18/1 for a Dallas victory and 9/1 for a Miami sweep. The odds that the series goes the distance with the Mavs coming out on top are 13/2 and 3/1 for the Heat to take home the title. The ‘over/under’ for total games played is listed at 5 ½ with the price on the ‘over’ being favored at -220 and the ‘under’ listed at +150.

Dallas faced No.6 seed Portland in the first round of the playoffs and needed six games to eliminate the Trail Blazers after dropping games three and four on the road. It earned a date with the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round and promptly swept the defending champions in four games. Against Oklahoma City in the conference finals, the Mavs’ gave up home court advantage with a 121-112 loss in Game 2 as a six-point favorite, but responded with three straight victories over the Thunder to win the West title in five games.

Dallas’s chances in this series rest squarely on the shoulders of Dirk Nowitzki. He has been nothing short of spectacular this postseason with an average 28.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 2.7 assists a game while shooting 51.7 percent from the field. Jason Terry has led the production off the bench with 17.3 points and 3.2 assists a game and Jason Kidd (9.9 points and 7.7 assists a game) has elevated his game to help the Mavs make their first appearance in the Finals since 2006.

Dallas is 12-3 straight-up and 12-2-1 against the spread this postseason. It is 7-1 SU and 6-2 ATS at home and 5-2 SU and 6-0-1 ATS on the road. The total has gone ‘over’ in nine of its 15 games; five of eight at home and four of seven on the road.

Miami’s run to the Finals started with a five-game series win over Philadelphia in round one. The Heat exercised some regular season demons by eliminating Boston in five games in the second round. They dropped Game 1 of the conference finals against No.1 seed Chicago 103-82 as a 2 ½-point underdog, but reeled off four straight victories over the Bulls to wrap up the East title in five games.

LeBron James has taken his talents to a whole new level this postseason. He has averaged 26 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 5.5 assists in 15 playoff games. Dwyane Wade was basically a non-factor in the series against Chicago, but he has still averaged 23.7 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 4.1 assists a game overall. The third member of Miami’s ‘Big Three’, Chris Bosh has averaged 18.6 points and 8.9 rebounds. This trio has accounted for close to 74 percent of the Heats’ scoring and 60 percent of the rebounds this postseason.

Miami is also 12-3 SU this postseason and 10-5 ATS. It is a perfect 8-0 SU at home and 6-2 ATS. On the road it has gone 4-3 both SU and ATS. The total has gone ‘over’ in nine of the Heat’s 15 games overall. It has gone ‘over’ in six of its eight home games, but in just three of its seven on the road.

This year’s NBA title will most likely go to the team whose top dog proves to have the biggest bite. The advantage on paper should go to James because of a the presence of Wade and Bosh, but do not underestimate the rest of the players on the Mavericks’ roster. Only one series has gone the distance in this year’s NBA playoffs, but you get the feeling that this is destined for the full seven games. In the end, the Heat’s ‘Big Three’ stay true to their word with their first world title, but you can rest assured that Nowitzki and the Mavs will make them earn it.

Bet on the 2011 NBA Finals at BetOnline.com and get  25% in FREE Play Bonuses on EVERY Deposit – Guaranteed Liftetime Bonus.

NBA FINALS SCHEDULE:

• Game 1: Tue 5/31 – Dallas @ Miami – 9:00 PM ET on ABC
• Game 2: Thu 6/2 – Dallas @ Miami – 9:00 PM ET on ABC
• Game 3: Sun 6/5 – Miami @ Dallas – 8:00 PM ET on ABC
• Game 4: Tue 6/7 – Miami @ Dallas – 9:00 PM ET on ABC
• Game 5: Thu 6/9 – Dallas @ Miami – 9:00 PM ET on ABC
• Game 6: Sun 6/12 – Miami @ Dallas – 8:00 PM ET on ABC
• Game 7: Tue 6/14 – Dallas @ Miami – 9:00 PM ET on ABC

vs.

Miami’ s Big Three are just one win away from claiming a spot to contest the NBA’s most valuable prize, and a win over the Chicago Bulls in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Wednesday night will seal the deal.

Date/Time: Thursday, May 26, 8:30 PM ET
Venue: United Center in Chicago, IL.
Broadcast: TNT

Money Line: Miami +130, Chicago -150
Spread: Chicago -3
Over/Under: 180

During the regular season, Chicago won all three contests against Miami, but each one of those games was decided in the last minute of play.

Click Here for more Free Expert NBA Playoff Basketball Picks

It went down much the same way in Game 4 on Monday night.

Chicago led by eight with three minutes remaining in the third, but the Heat scored eight of the game’s next 10 points, and the first seven in the fourth, to take a 70-69 lead.  Then after a see saw battle, Lebron James was called for an offensive foul with eight seconds left and the ball was turned over to Chicago. Derrick Rose’s face away jumper on the game’s final possession fell way short, forcing the game into overtime.

James finished the contest with 35 points, while Chris Bosh chipped in 22.  But it was the Dwyane Wade show in the extra period, blocking two of four Chicago shots as the Heat topped the Bulls 101-93.  Wade finished with a mediocre 17 points for the night as Miami moved to 5-0 all-time in playoff overtime games.

Rose led the Bulls with 23 points, while Luol Deng and Carlos Boozer contributed 20 apiece.

Chicago has lost three straight games for the first time this season, while Miami can wrap up their first finals trip since 2006.

Defense is the reason the Heat beat the Bulls in Game 4. A defense that forced the Bulls into turning the ball over on consecutive possessions late in overtime, one that Miami’s Wade promptly turned into a layup with 1:01 left for a 95-89 lead.

Things don’t look good for Chicago, as the Bulls are 0-5 all-time when down 1-3 in series, while the Heat are 4-0 in series all-time when up 3-1.

Teams up 3-1 in NBA best-of-seven series have gone on to win 192 of 200 previous such series with the Boston Celtics being the last team to come back from such a deficit in their Eastern Conference Finals series with Philadelphia back in 1981.

The odds makers have the Chicago Bulls as a -3 point favorite with an over/under of 180.

Check out the latest NBA Basketball Playoff Odds here.

Matt’s Free Prediction: Miami – If defense wins Championships, the Heat will advance to the Finals with an ugly but effective win on Thursday in the Windy City.

Need more help making your picks winners? Check out our top  handicappers.

Bet the Miam Heat/Chicago Bulls Game 5 at BetUs and get an amazing 140% IN TOTAL BONUSES  and re-up bonuses! And Bet on NBA Basketball NOW!

Miami Heat Betting Trends:

• The total has gone OVER in 5 of Miami’s last 6 games
• Miami is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
• Miami is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games on the road
• Miami is 5-14 ATS in its last 19 games when playing on the road against Chicago

Chicago Bulls Betting Trends:

• Chicago is 18-6 SU in its last 24 games
• Chicago is 22-3 SU in its last 25 games at home
• The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Chicago’s last 9 games when playing at home against Miami
• Chicago is 10-3 SU in its last 13 games when playing at home against Miami

vs.

Pointspread: Dallas Mavericks -6.5
Money Line: Oklahoma City Thunder +250, Dallas Mavericks -300
Over/Under: 198.5

Click Here for more Free Expert NBA Playoff Basketball Picks

The Oklahoma City Thunder will try and keep this series alive with a win on Wednesday night at the American Airlines Center in Game 5 of their best-of-seven Western Conference Finals matchup with the Dallas Mavericks. Tip-off is set for 9 p.m. (ET) and the game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.

It remains to be seen if Oklahoma City can recover from a devastating 112-105 overtime loss on Monday night as a four-point home favorite. It is not just the fact it is now in a 3-1 hole in this series, it’s the fact that it blew a 15-point lead down the stretch to lose the game. The loss in Game 4 dropped the Thunder’s record in the postseason to 7-8-1 against the spread overall and 4-5 ATS at home. The total went over the 196-point line and is now 8-7-1 overall and 3-3-1 on the road. They are 3-3-1 ATS on the road and as an underdog in the playoffs.

You would have to blame a complete collapse of defense in the beginning of Game 3 and down the stretch in Game 4 for Oklahoma City’s predicament. It has scored over 100 points in three of the four games against a team that was only allowing an average of 88 points, but has been unable to stop Dallas when it needed to the most. The chances of the Thunder turning things around in this game on the road would have to seem slim at best.

Kevin Durant scored a team-high 29 points and Russell Westbrook added 19 more on Monday night, but these two shot a combined 36.4 percent from the field and each missed some crucial shots with the game on the line. Oklahoma City completely dominated the boards with a 55-33 edge in rebounds and outscored the Mavs 54-36 in the paint but still managed to find a way to lose this game.

Dallas is just one win away from returning to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2006. It has been a virtual windfall of profit for anyone riding its coat tails this postseason with a 12-1-1 record ATS overall and a 5-0-1 record ATS on the road. It is 6-1 ATS at home and the total has gone ‘over’ in nine of its 14 playoff games.

Dirk Nowitzki continues to be unstoppable in the playoffs especially when his team needs it the most. He scored a game-high 40 points on Monday and is now averaging 28.6 points a game. The Mavericks’ bench has also been a key contributor as it kicked in 40 points in Game 4 led by Jason Terry’s 24. Dallas is shooting 46.7 percent from the floor in the postseason and averaging 99.6 points a game.

Head-to-head, the Mavericks won two of three straight-up in the regular season and were 2-1 ATS. The total went ‘over’ in two of the three games. Dating back to the 2009-2010 season, Dallas is 2-3 straight-up at home against the Thunder and 1-4 ATS.

The odds makers have the Dallas Mavericks as a -6.5 point favorite with an over/under of 198.5.

Check out the latest NBA Basketball Playoff Odds here.

Prediction: It will be next to impossible for the Thunder to bounce back from Monday’s collapse to keep Dallas from clinching this series at home on Wednesday. Out of sheer pride, Oklahoma City will keep this game close enough to cover with the 6 ½ points, but the Mavericks win the game straight-up.

Need more help making your picks winners? Check out our top  handicappers.

Bet the Thunder/Mavericks game at BetUs and get an amazing 140% IN TOTAL BONUSES  and re-up bonuses! And Bet on NBA Basketball NOW!

vs.

Money Line: Mavericks +120, Thunder -140
Pointspread: Oklahoma City -3
Over/Under: 196.5

Click Here for more Free Expert NBA Playoff Basketball Picks

The Western Conference Finals matchup between the Dallas Mavericks and the Oklahoma City Thunder shifts to the Oklahoma City Arena this Saturday night for Game 3 of this best-of-seven series after the two split the first two games in Dallas. Tip-off is scheduled for 9 p.m. (ET) and the game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.

Dallas’s chance to take a 2-0 series lead as a five-point home favorite was cut short in a 106-100 loss on Thursday night. This followed an impressive 121-112 victory in the first game of this series as a six-point favorite. The total has gone ‘over’ in both games. It was the Mavericks’ first loss against the spread this postseason as they are now 10-1-1 overall. They are 4-0-1 ATS on the road and the total has gone ‘over’ in eight of their 12 games.

Dirk Nowitzki led Dallas with 29 points, five rebounds, and five assists, but these numbers pale in comparison to his 48 point performance in Game 1. Regardless, he has been lights-out shooting the ball; going a combined 25-for-35 from the field and an amazing 33-for-34 from the foul line. Jason Terry had 24 points off the bench in Tuesday’s win but was held to eight points in Game 2.

The Mavericks shot 53.4 percent from the floor in Game 1, but saw this average drop to 43.8 on Thursday night. The production off the bench dramatically dropped off as well with 29 points verse 53 in the first game.

Oklahoma City’s win in Game 2 moved its postseason record to 7-6-1 ATS with the total moving to 7-6-1 as well. It is now 3-3-1 ATS on the road and 4-3 ATS at home. The total is also 4-3 at home, but three of the last four games have gone ‘over’.

Kevin Durant followed up a 40-point effort in Game 1 with a team-high 24 points on Thursday night. The big story out of Game 2 is the Thunder grabbing this win with its second leading scorer Russell Westbrook spending the fourth quarter on the bench. Head Coach Scott Brooks decided to go with four reserves for much of the final quarter and they delivered as Oklahoma City finished the game with 50 points off bench.

The Thunder shot 55.7 percent from the floor and for the second game in-a-row eclipsed the 100-point mark against a Dallas defense that was holding its opponents to an average of 88 points a game. Oklahoma City shot 38.9 percent from three-point range and went 21-for-26 from the foul line. It had a 29-23 advantage over the Mavs in defensive rebounds.

Head-to-head, the Mavericks won two of three straight-up in the regular season and were 2-1 ATS. The total went ‘over’ in two of the three games. Dating back to the 2009-2010 season, Dallas is 3-1 both straight-up and ATS on the road against the Thunder.

The odds makers have the Oklahoma City Thunder  as a -3 point favorite with an over/under of 196.5.

Check out the latest NBA Basketball Playoff Odds here.

Prediction: This is a golden opportunity for Oklahoma City to grab the edge is this series as a three-point favorite, but stick with the Mavericks in this one as Nowitzki finds a way to pull out the win.

Need more help making your picks winners? Check out our top  handicappers.

Bet the Mavs/Thunder Game 3 at an online sportsbook that gives you a 50% sign up bonus up to $500 from the website “Where the Line Originates” – Bookmaker.

Dallas Mavericks Betting Trends:

• The total has gone OVER in 6 of Dallas’s last 7 games
• Dallas is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games
• Dallas is 5-0-1 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
• Dallas is 17-8 SU in its last 25 games on the road

Oklahoma City Thunder Betting Trends:

• The total has gone OVER in 4 of Oklahoma City’s last 6 games
• Oklahoma City is 14-6 SU in its last 20 games
• Oklahoma City is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games at home
• The total has gone OVER in 5 of Oklahoma City’s last 6 games when playing Dallas