NBA Betting Preview: Toronto Raptors vs. Miami Heat Game 4 Odds, Analysis

The Miami Heat closed as 5.5-point home favorites in a 95-91 loss to the Toronto Raptors in Game 3 on Saturday. The Heat are again 5.5-point home chalk for Monday’s Game 4 with sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark as they attempt to even their second-round playoff series with the Raptors at 2-2.

Toronto was able to steal back home-court advantage by getting off to a strong start in Game 3, leading 49-40 at halftime and then outscoring Miami 27-23 in in the fourth quarter after the home team rallied back to tie it at the end of the third. Dwyane Wade did everything he could for the Heat, scoring a playoff-best 38 points on 13-of-25 shooting from the field, including 4-of-6 from three-point range.

Wade also grabbed a team-high eight rebounds, but it was not enough because he had little help from his teammates in the setback. Goran Dragic (12 points) and Joe Johnson (10) were the only other Miami players to score in double figures, while two others finished with eight.

Center Hassan Whiteside played just eight minutes before suffering an MCL sprain, which has him doubtful for Game 4. Whiteside averaged 11 points and 14.5 rebounds in the first two games of the series.

The Raptors would seem to have a significant edge for the Game 4 playoff matchup inside without having to deal with Whiteside, but they will be without center Jonas Valanciunas for the rest of the series because of an ankle injury. Valanciunas was a major factor in the Game 3 victory with 16 points and a game-high 12 rebounds in 22 minutes, and he hurt his ankle on a blocked-shot attempt.

Fortunately, they have a more capable backup than the Heat in Bismack Biyombo, which should help their chances of heading home with a 3-1 series lead.

Kyle Lowry scored a team-high 33 points for Toronto in Game 3, including 29 in the second half, as he took advantage of Whiteside’s absence by repeatedly driving to the basket.

The Raptors snapped a six-game skid against the spread, according to the Odds Shark NBA Database, and they will try to continue that strategy behind Lowry and DeMar DeRozan, who added 19 points and a team-high five assists in Game 3.