NBA Picks: San Antonio Spurs vs. Miami Heat, Game 1

The San Antonio Spurs are 16-6 all-time in NBA Finals games, which is important to consider when making your against-the-spread picks on Thursday as they prepare to take on the Miami Heat at AmericanAirlines Arena.

Sports bettors will find that the Spurs are 5.5-point road underdogs in the pro basketball odds (courtesy of SBR Forum), while the total sits at 188.5 in the market.

Let's take a closer look at the opening game of this best-of-seven series from a betting perspective, while offering up a prediction along the way.

San Antonio Spurs

The San Antonio Spurs have won their last six games during the 2013 NBA playoffs, including a 93-86 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies as 2.5-point road underdogs in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals on May 27.

NBA handicappers will find that the Spurs are 3-2 straight up and against the spread as road underdogs of 3.5 to six points since the start of the regular season. 

Miami Heat

The Miami Heat have alternated wins and losses over their last seven playoff games. They are currently coming off Monday's resounding 99-76 victory over the Indiana Pacers as seven-point home favorites in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Over the last two-plus seasons, the Heat are 14-6 straight up and 13-7 against the spread as home favorites of 3.5 to six points, with the UNDER going 13-7 in that situation.

Prediction

I'm going to recommend that readers back the San Antonio Spurs in Game 1 of the 2013 NBA Finals, as they've gone 6-1 against the spread in their last seven road games versus teams with a winning home record.

NBA Pick: San Antonio Spurs +5.5 

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