The San Antonio Spurs are up 2-1 on the Miami Heat in this NBA Finals series and they were favored for Game 4 too until uncertainty arose over Tony Parker's hamstring.
NBA Finals betting preview: Game 4 odds now favor Heat over Spurs
Tony Parker’s hamstring is worth three or more points to the NBA Finals Game 4 spread. His status has already affected the Miami vs San Antonio odds.
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The Spurs opened as two-point favorites at most sportsbooks tracked by OddsShark.com, but Parker’s situation had moved the line roughly three points by midday, making Miami a small road favorite.
At issue is Parker’s lame hammy. While he said today is “feels ready to go,” oddsmakers are clearly nervous about what a half-speed Parker will mean to the score. Kevin Bradley of Bovada said Parker is worth “3-4 points.” to the spread.
Will this series end way faster than anybody (outside of Spurs nation) hopes? Or can the Heat, the defending champions, turn this series back in their favor on the road, as LeBron James has promised?
Shortly after the clock ran out on San Antonio’s 113-77 Game 3 victory Wednesday night, the basketball betting lines at Bovada opened with San Antonio -2 for Friday night’s Game 4. As of Friday morning Bovada had dropped the Spurs to -1, while the total sat at 187.
While Parker has been super in these playoffs, the Spurs went 11-5 SU and 9-7 ATS in games Parker missed during the regular season. The question is, how much should the basketball betting strategies of NBA Finals bettors be altered because of his tender hamstring?
Game 1 of this series was a dandy, with San Antonio rallying for a 92-88 victory in Miami. But in Game 2 the Heat went on a 33-5 second-half run that led to a 103-84 victory, while in Game 3 the Spurs outscored Miami by 30 points in the second half in that 113-77 romp.
San Antonio made 16 of 32 three-pointers Wednesday night, led by Danny Green's seven-for-nine performance from beyond the arc. The Spurs are now 26-for-52 from long range over the last two games. But how long can a team shoot like that?
Miami has lost six games in these playoffs, but has followed up each of its previous five losses with victories.
San Antonio began this Finals series as a +200 underdog to win it; as of Friday morning Bovada was listing the Spurs at -130 to become the new champs.
Miami went off as a -220 favorite to repeat as champs; as of Friday morning the Heat were getting +110 to rally and take this series.
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