NBA Playoffs 2012: Miami Heat, LeBron James Considered Underdogs in Game 3

The Miami Heat were not expected to be underdogs in the 2012 NBA playoffs until potentially meeting the Oklahoma City Thunder or San Antonio Spurs in the finals. However, they've landed in that role in Game 3 of their best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Indiana Pacers on Thursday.

Las Vegas oddsmakers opened up with the Heat as slight one-point road favorites for when the two teams meet at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, but that number has moved two points in the other direction.

Miami was unable to hold onto a five-point halftime lead in a 78-75 home defeat to Indiana in Game 2 on Wednesday night—a surprising result following a game-high 28 points from 2012 MVP LeBron James.

Dwyane Wade contributed with 24 points, but the result ended up being the franchise's lowest point total in 36 playoff games dating back to April 27, 2009.

The loss of power forward Chris Bosh for the rest of the series is now seen as a major obstacle in hopes of winning a championship, something that the fans and front office could ignore if the Heat were able to sweep the Pacers in four games and advance to the conference finals.

The Heat lost all four games as an underdog this year, signaling that a one-game deficit in this series is potentially on the horizon. 

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