NBA Playoffs 2012: Miami Heat vs. Boston Celtics, Game 4 Odds

The Miami Heat (2-1) are going to have to play at least five games if they plan on reaching their second consecutive NBA Finals, after dropping a 101-91 decision to the Boston Celtics (1-2) in Game 3 as 2.5-point road underdogs on Friday night at the TD Garden in Boston.

LeBron James scored a game-high 34 points on 16-of-26 shooting from the floor, but received little help from his teammates until outscoring the Celtics by a 28-16 margin in the fourth quarter. The Heat have now lost all three games in straight-up fashion as a road underdog of three or fewer points this season.

The Celtics have been sent out as two-point home favorites for Game 4 on Sunday (provided by SBR Forum), while the total comes out at 182, which is three points higher than the previous game.

Miami has now dropped two of three Game 3s during the 2012 NBA playoffs, with the only victory coming against the New York Knicks in the opening round. 

I'm anticipating that most fans are going to expect a major bounce-back performance from the Heat on Sunday, considering they scored an impressive 101-93 victory over the Indiana Pacers as two-point road favorites in Game 4 of their second-round series. James and Wade combined for 70 points in that affair.

Boston has a chance of winning consecutive games in this series as long as point guard Rajon Rondo is on the floor, notching consecutive double-doubles in the last two contests, including 21 points and 10 assists on Friday night.

I'm expecting the Heat to take a 3-1 series lead after Sunday's affair, as I don't expect the aging Celtics to shoot 49.4 percent or better from the floor in three consecutive games.

Pick: Miami Heat +2

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