Los Angeles Lakers at Miami Heat

Betting Odds

Point Spread: Miami (-5.5)
Game Total Line: (191.5)
(wagering lines available at Betonline.com)

Two of the NBA's big dogs meet for a Thursday night national TV feature when Kobe Bryant and the LA Lakers hit Miami to run with LeBron James and the Heat (8 pm Eastern, TNT).

Miami started this season 5-0, and got to 8-1, but then lost three in a row in finishing off a five-game road trip. Then Tuesday night the Heat trailed San Antonio by 14 at the half, but went on a 29-5 run to begin the third quarter and outscored the Spurs 71-35 in the second half to win 120-98.

So Miami, at 9-4, sits in third place in the Southeast Division, but only a game back of first-place Orlando.

The Heat beat San Antonio without F Dwyane Wade, who's missed recent action after turning an ankle five days ago. Combined with a sore foot Wade is very questionable to play Thursday night.

But Miami regained an offensive weapon Tuesday night when F Mike Miller, who hadn't played yet this season because of an off-season hernia surgery, returned to action. Miller then helped fuel the Heat's big comeback by going six-for-six from 3-point land.

On the other side of this matchup Los Angeles started 4-4 this season, then won five in a row. The Lakers then lost in LA to the Clippers, but bounced back to defeat defending league-champion Dallas Monday night 73-70.

So LA, at 10-5, leads the Pacific Division, but by only a game over the second-place Clippers.

Miami is 4-1 straight-up and 3-2 against-the-spread at home this season, while the Lakers are 1-4 both SU and ATS on the road.

The 'over/unders' are 9-4 in Heat games this season, which have averaged 206 points. On the other end of the scale the totals are 5-10 in Lakers games, which have averaged just 182 points.

Last year Miami swept the two-game season series from the Lakers, winning 96-80 on Christmas Day in LA, and 94-88 in Miami in March. Both those games played 'under' their posted totals.

On NBA futures markets Miami is listed at right around -175 to win the Eastern Conference again this season, and at about +150 to win the NBA championship, while the Lakers are getting 4/1 to win the Western Conference and 10/1 to win the title.

Betting Pick

The Lakers have struggled on the road this season with a 1-4 ATS record. Look for that trend to continue tonight.
Take the Heat -5.5 at 5Dimes