NBA Picks: Miami Heat vs. Indiana Pacers, Game 6

The Indiana Pacers are 2-0 straight up and against the spread when trailing in a series during the 2013 NBA playoffs, which is important to consider when making your picks on Saturday as they prepare to host the Miami Heat at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

Sports bettors will find that the Pacers are two-point underdogs in the pro basketball odds (courtesy of SBR Forum), while the total sits at 182 in the market.

Let's take a closer look at Game 6 of the 2013 Eastern Conference Finals from a betting perspective, while offering up a prediction along the way. 

Miami Heat

The Miami Heat own a 3-2 advantage in this best-of-seven series after picking up a 90-79 victory over the Indiana Pacers as 7.5-point home favorites in Game 5 on Thursday.

NBA handicappers will find that the Heat are 9-2 straight up and 6-4-1 against the spread when attempting to close out a playoff series since LeBron James landed in South Beach.

Indiana Pacers

The Indiana Pacers averaged 13.2 offensive rebounds per game during the 2012-13 NBA regular season, but they managed to grab just six in Game 5.

Over the last two-plus seasons, the Pacers are 8-8 straight up and against the spread as home underdogs of three points or less, with the OVER going 9-7 in that situation. 

Prediction

I'm going to recommend that readers back the Indiana Pacers in the first half as their NBA playoff pick on Friday, as they've gone 12-4 against the spread following a straight-up loss of 10 or more points in their last 16 opportunities.

NBA Pick: Indiana Pacers First Half +1

Follow on Twitter: @JeffGrantSports