2020 NBA Finals: Lakers-Heat Game 5 odds, props, analysis
Lakers-Heat Game 5 odds are here and LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers are just one win away from an NBA Championship. The Miami Heat made things interesting with a Game 3 win, but the Lakers fired back with a victory in Game 4, meaning a win in Game 5 on Friday night earns LeBron James his fourth NBA title on his third team and a record-tying 17th NBA championship.
BetRivers.com is here to provide a preview of Lakers-Heat Game 5 odds for the 2020 NBA Finals on Friday, Oct. 9, at 9:10 p.m. on ABC.
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What did learn Rob Dauster learn from Game 4? Can Erik Spoelstra make the necessary adjustments? Where is the smart money headed? Read below for the full breakdown of Game 5.
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FridayBetRivers.com Specials
- Lakers score o28.5 in every quarter (+1600)
- At least 3 of 4 make o2.5 3-point FGs: Crowder, Caruso, Herro, Green (+1200)
- Jimmy Butler & Bam Adebayo score o49.5 points combined (+500)
- Anthony Davis 3+ assists, 2+ blocks and 1+ steal (+250)
- LeBron James leads all scorers + Lakers Win + MVP (+175)
- Rajon Rondo o22.5 points, rebounds, and assists (+150)
- Over 0.5 Triple-Doubles (+125)
Click here for the full list of Lakers-Heat Game 5 odds.
2020 NBA FINALS: LAKERS-HEAT GAME 5 ODDS
- GAME 5: Friday, Oct. 10 at 9:10 p.m. on ABC
- MONEYLINE: Lakers -305, Heat +250
- SPREAD: Lakers -7
- OVER/UNDER: 216.5
- IMPLIED SCORE: Lakers 111.75, Heat 104.75
The Lakers solved their Jimmy Butler problem in Game 4.
And the solution was as simple as … not guarding him?
After putting together one of the more memorable NBA Final performances in recent years — single-handedly extending the series a game by willing out a 40-point, 13-assist, 11-rebound performance in Game 3 — Butler was still pretty good. He finished with 22 points, 10 boards, nine assists and three steals while shooting 8-17 from the floor.
But he was 0-3 from three and only got to the line seven times, and there-in lies the rub. What the Lakers did to slow Butler down was to put Anthony Davis on him, go under every ball-screen, avoid switching into bad matchups and daring Butler to either shoot a three over a pterodactyl or try to play bully ball against a 7-footer that just so happens to be one of the best defenders in the NBA.
Neither option is optimal for the Heat.
Not when the Lakers have the two most talented players on the floor and Miami’s best shot-creator in the half-court, Goran Dragic, has a torn plantar fascia. Their offense runs through Butler, and when he can be kept in check, the Lakers can win a game relatively easily despite the fact that LeBron and Anthony Davis very much looked like guys that were playing their fourth game in seven days at the end of a grueling three-months in the bubble.
I fully expect the Lakers to do exactly what they did in Game 5 again. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Dwight Howard relegated to the bench again — he played just eight minutes in Game 4. Eric Spoelstra is one of the best and most creative coaches on the planet, and he’s going to have something cooked up to counter.
It may be as simple as getting in Butler’s ear and telling him they can’t win if he doesn’t make the Lakers pay for going under screens; I know he only shot 24 percent from this year, but Butler did shoot better than 35 percent from three the previous three seasons combined.
Fading Spo has never felt comfortable in these playoffs.
But even if Dragic returns, I want to be on the Lakers in this spot. At the end of the day, talent wins out, and the Lakers have a talent advantage in this matchup.
We just have to hope Tyler Herro doesn’t hit anymore “meaningless” three with one second left on the clock.