The Miami Heat are 2-0 straight up and against the spread when facing elimination this postseason. The Heat will be put to the ultimate test again in Game 6 at home against the Toronto Raptors on Friday night.
Raptors vs. Heat odds, 2016 NBA playoffs: Toronto can bounce Miami with Game 6 win
The Miami Heat will try to stave off elimination when hosting the Toronto Raptors on Friday night as home betting favorites in Game 6 of the series.
Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Miami is a 4-point home favorite in Friday’s elimination game at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com. The betting favorite has covered the spread in each of the last two games in this series after failing to do so in the previous three.
En route to a road upset in Game 1, the Heat were able to hold the Raptors to just 18 points in the first quarter to prevent the crowd from getting into the game early. This would not be the case again in Game 5 as Toronto stormed out of the gate with a 9-0 run, sending the Air Canada Centre into a frenzy in the process.
From that point forward the Heat outscored the Raptors 91-90, but they were never able to dig themselves out of that early hole, losing 99-91 and failing to cover as a 4.5-point underdog.
In the team’s last 11 games as a home favorite, the Heat are 9-2 SU and ATS per the OddsShark NBA Database including a 4-2 SU and ATS record this postseason.
After getting roasted by the media on the heels of an awful performance in Game 4, DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry were outstanding in Game 5. The duo more than tripled its offensive production from the previous game, going from 19 combined points in Game 4 to 59 combined points in Game 5.
DeRozan shot 50% from the floor and was a perfect 11-for-11 on free throws on his way to a 34-point night. Toronto is just 3-19 SU in its last 22 postseason road games.
Friday’s total is set at 189 points. The UNDER is 4-0-1 in Toronto’s five road playoff games this year.
Miami was able to shake off elimination in the first round after falling down 3-2 in the series, beating Charlotte on the road and then finishing the job off at home. This time around, the Heat will need a home win to force a road Game 7 against the Raptors.
