The Miami Heat and New York Knicks meet Sunday for Game 1 of their 2nd-round playoff series. Tip-off from Madison Square Garden is set for 1 p.m. ET (ABC). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Heat vs. Knicks odds, and make our expert NBA picks and predictions.
Miami completed the gentlemen’s sweep on the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks in the 1st round. G Jimmy Butler has been on a tear in the playoffs, averaging 37.6 points per game (PPG). The next highest playoff scorer for the Heat is C Bam Adebayo at 17.4 PPG.
New York defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in 5 games, a series many people thought would go to 7 games. The highlight from that series was the play of C Mitchell Robinson, who averaged 9.8 rebound and 2.2 blocks per game and looked like the best big on the floor. Look for coach Tom Thibodeau to use New York’s depth on the wing to its advantage on both sides of the ball.
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Heat at Knicks odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:40 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Heat +165 (bet $100 to win $165) | Knicks -200 (bet $200 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Heat +4.5 (-105) | Knicks -4.5 (-115)
- Over/Under (O/U): 207.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Heat at Knicks key injuries
Heat
- Not yet submitted
Knicks
- G Quentin Grimes (shoulder) questionable
- F Julius Randle (ankle) questionable
For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.
Heat at Knicks picks and predictions
Prediction
Knicks 105, Heat 99
Moneyline
AVOID.
The Knicks should win this game at home if they can limit Butler and force other Heat players to try to score, which will be hard with Tyler Herro out. But I’m not a fan of the Knicks at -200. The risk is not worth the reward here.
Against the spread
BET KNICKS -4.5 (-115).
New York is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games playing on 3 or more days of rest. New York is also 6-1-1 ATS in their last 8 games vs. a team with a winning record. The Heat are only 1-4 ATS in the last 5 matchups with the Knicks. Look for the Knicks to use their wing depth to throw multiple defenders on Butler to keep him from getting comfortable.
Over/Under
LEAN UNDER 207.5 (-110).
For New York the Under is 5-0 in their last 5 overall, 4-0 in their last 4 following an ATS win, and 4-0 in their last 4 following a straight up win. The Under is also 20-6 in the last 26 meetings in New York.
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