Spurs at Heat Game 4 Pick

San Antonio Spurs vs. Miami Heat

Game 4

Thursday 9:00 EST

June 12, 2014

Game 4 Line: Miami -5.5 (Subject to change. Click here for current odds)

In Game 3 of the NBA Finals, the San Antonio Spurs made 19 of its first 21 shots and shot a finals-record 75.8 percent in the first half. That’s all that was needed en route to their 111-92 victory over the Miami Heat.

Now, up 2-1 over the two-time defending NBA champions, the Spurs find themselves in the same position they were in just one year ago, after a 36-point victory in Game 3 of the 2013 NBA Finals. The Spurs are well aware how the rest of that series played out.

And while San Antonio should certainly not be comparing last year to this year, Game 4 presents a tremendous opportunity. No team has overcome a 3-1 deficit in the NBA Finals, and a victory Thursday would guarantee the Spurs two chances to win the series on their home floor, putting an end to the reign of the Heat.

But the Spurs weren’t “awarded” the championship trophy just yet. Don’t expect San Antonio to to shoot lights out again. Chris Bosh, who scored 18 points in Games 1 and 2 had a mere four attempts from the field, was a forgotten piece to the puzzle on offense. LeBron James committed seven turnovers in Game 3, his personal high in an NBA Finals game. And Mario Chalmers has been anything but “Super Mario” after missing all five shots and falling to 3 for 12 in the finals.

After James’ 35-point performance in the Heats’ Game 2 victory, LeBron was a mere mortal in Game 3, scoring 22 points, and finishing with seven assists, five rebounds and five steals. James is the first person in NBA history to lose a finals game with that line, but what should resonate, as a concern was James’ lack of aggressiveness in the second half. Attempting just five shots in the final two quarters, the Heat cannot afford James to be lackluster during any part of Game 4.

While the four-time MVP struggled, the same cannot be said for Kawhi Leonard, who had his best game of the series, and was no match for anyone on the court. Not only did Leonard have one of the best offensive performances of his career (29 points on 10-of-13 shooting), but Leonard’s defense turned king James into a prince – at least for one night.

For two consecutive Finals, the Leonard versus James matchup has taken center stage. The fate of the Spurs will not solely depend on the offensive production of Leonard, but Miami’s destiny will be decided by No. 6.

You might think that with Las Vegas giving the Spurs more than two baskets, they’re a lock to cover in Game 4. But remember this, the Heat haven’t lost two postseason games in a row since the 2012 East Finals against Boston, and they’re 12-1 ATS over that stretch.

After Thursday night, let’s make it a bakers’ dozen.

My Pick: Heat -5.5 Bet these odds now!