NBA Picks: Indiana Pacers vs. Miami Heat, Game 5

The Miami Heat are 7-3 against the spread when tied in a playoff series since LeBron James and Chris Bosh joined Dwyane Wade in South Beach, which can't be ignored when making your NBA picks on Thursday as they continue their best-of-seven series with the Indiana Pacers at AmericanAirlines Arena.

Sports bettors will find that the Heat are 7.5-point home favorites in the pro basketball odds (courtesy of SBR Forum), while the total stands at 185.5 in the market.

Let's take a closer look at Game 5 of the 2013 Eastern Conference Finals from a betting perspective, while offering up a prediction along the way. 

Indiana Pacers

The Indiana Pacers knotted up this series at two games apiece—picking up a 99-92 victory over the Miami Heat as three-point home underdogs in Game 4 on Tuesday.

NBA handicappers will find that the Pacers are 6-23 straight up and 10-19 against the spread as road underdogs of 6.5 to nine points over the last two-plus seasons.

Miami Heat

Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra was left scratching his head on Tuesday night, as his team shot just 39 percent from the floor in Game 4.

Over the last two-plus seasons, the Heat are 38-13 straight up and 27-24 against the spread as home favorites of 6.5 to nine points, with the OVER going 29-21-1 in that situation. 

Prediction

I'm going to recommend that readers back the Miami Heat as their NBA playoff pick on Thursday, as they've covered the number in their last eight games following a straight-up loss.

NBA Pick: Miami Heat -7.5

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