Amar'e Stoudemire Injury: Miami Heat vs. New York Knicks, Game 3 Betting Odds

The Miami Heat (2-0) and New York Knicks (0-2) will continue their best-of-seven Eastern Conference playoff series on Thursday night inside Madison Square Garden, with the opening tip scheduled for 7:00 ET on TNT.

Las Vegas oddsmakers have just released the Knicks as 5.5-point home underdogs due to information that forward Amar'e Stoudemire is expected to miss Game 3 with a hand injury. The total stands at 186.5. 

New York were handed two double-digit losses in Miami to start the series, including a 104-94 setback on Monday night as the team was outscored in all four quarters. The Knicks have dropped all five meetings against the Heat by eight or more points including regular-season contests.

Sports bettors shouldn't write off the Knicks immediately in Game 3, as they were 2-0 against the spread as a home underdog of 3.5 to 6.0 points this year.

Miami seems destined for a return trip to the NBA Finals, considering it holds a commanding 2-0 lead in this series, while also knowing that the Chicago Bulls are without last year's league MVP Derrick Rose for the remainder of the postseason.

It's important to note that the Heat were just 5-6 this season as a road favorite of 3.5 to 6.0 points during the 2011-12 campaign, which definitely provides the host an opportunity of avoiding a four-game sweep.

I just don't see the Knicks winning in outright fashion, especially with the potential loss of one of its biggest weapons inside the paint.

Prediction: Miami Heat win the series in four games

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