NBA Betting: Heat Try To Take Down Bucks

Three games highlight the Thursday night NBA playoffs schedule, starting with Game 3 between the Milwaukee Bucks and Miami Heat.

The Bucks hold a 2-0 series lead after crushing the Heat 132-98 in Game 2 as a 5-point home favorite at Bovada Sportsbook. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the way for Milwaukee with 31 points and 13 rebounds, while Bryn Forbes added 22 points off the bench.

The series heads to Miami for Game 3 and the Bucks are 1.5-point road favorites at Bovada. At home, the Heat are 7-2 straight up and 5-3-1 against the spread in their last nine games, while in the playoffs they’re 3-2 SU and 4-1 ATS in their last five home games.

As a road favorite, the Bucks are 3-4 SU and 2-5 ATS in their last seven. Milwaukee hasn’t had much luck in Miami with a 3-8 record SU and ATS in the last 11 games.

Lakers favored to grab series edge over Suns

Also on tap Thursday night is Game 3 between the Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns. The series is tied 1-1 following the Lakers’ 109-102 win as 2-point road favorites in Game 2 on Tuesday night. In Game 3, the Lakers opened as 6.5-point home favorites.

The Suns’ Game 2 loss snapped their four-game winning streak. Despite their recent mini streak, the Suns have been a bad bet recently at 4-6-1 ATS in their last 11. On the road, the Suns have posted nine straight OVERs for totals bettors.

At home, the Lakers have won five straight with a 2-3 ATS record. Los Angeles has been a losing bet at home for a while with a 4-11 ATS mark in its last 15 games. At home to the Suns, the Lakers are 6-1 SU and 5-2 ATS in their last seven.

Blazers have been bad bet at home in playoffs

The other game on Thursday is Game 3 between the Denver Nuggets and Portland Trail Blazers. This series is also tied 1-1 following the Nuggets’ 128-109 win in Game 2 as a 2-point underdog. In Game 3, Portland is a 4-point home favorite at Bovada.

Despite the win and cover in Game 2, the Nuggets are 1-5 ATS in their last six vs the Trail Blazers. In their last nine games in Portland, the Nuggets are 3-6 ATS.

Portland has won four straight at home with a 2-2 record ATS. At home in the playoffs has been a different story for the Trail Blazers. In their last seven home playoff games, the Blazers are 2-5 SU and 1-5-1 ATS. Portland is also 3-12-1 ATS in its last 16 home playoff games.