NBA betting odds are on the board for Game 1 of the NBA Finals, set for Wednesday night. The surprising Miami Heat, who are a torrid 12-3 SU and ATS in the postseason, take on the Los Angeles Lakers at 9 p.m. ET.
Multiple oddsmakers provided insights on NBA opening lines and early line movement, sharp money and public betting for Wednesday’s matchup, along with odds to win the NBA championship. Covers will update this action report with NBA sharp picks vs. public bets and line movement up until game time.
NBA line movement
UPDATE 8:30 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: Thirty minutes or so before tipoff, FanDuel remained at Lakers -4.5, where the line has stuck since Tuesday afternoon. The total is 217.5, the same as the opener, after spending a couple of hours earlier today at 218.5.
UPDATE 6:15 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: The SuperBook opened the Lakers -5.5 and has been at -4.5 the past 24 hours. The total opened at 218 and ticked to 217.5.
UPDATE 2:30 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: DraftKings is sitting at Lakers -4.5, after opening -5.
UPDATE 8 P.M. ET TUESDAY: BetMGM in Nevada opened the Lakers -5.5 and the line is now -4.5, but that's not indicative of the bulk of the action, nor the need. See below for details.
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Miami’s run through the playoffs includes winning seven games SU and ATS from the underdog role. The Heat put away the Boston Celtics in six games in the Eastern Conference finals, closing with a 125-113 victory Sunday night. The Lakers are 12-3 SU and 9-5-1 ATS in the playoffs, finishing off the Nuggets 117-107 in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals Saturday.
DraftKings opened the Lakers -5 on Monday morning, and the line stuck there through Monday night. Likewise, the total opened and stuck at 217.5 Monday.
NBA sharp money
UPDATE 6:15 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: "Some smaller sharp play on the Lakers spread," Osterman said.
UPDATE 8 P.M. ET TUESDAY: BetMGM Nevada's Jeff Stoneback said sharp play on the Heat +5.5 helped bring the number down to 4.5 for Wednesday's Game 1.
NBA public betting
UPDATE 8:30 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: FanDuel is seeing two-way action on the spread, with a lean toward the favored Lakers, who are taking 56 percent of tickets and 57 percent of money. On the moneyline, the Heat are getting 55 percent of bets, but the Lakers are drawing 65 percent of dollars. On the total, tickets and money are running about 2/1 on the Over.
UPDATE 6:15 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: "We're seeing public money on the Heat +4.5 and on the Lakers moneyline," Osterman said of action at The SuperBook. "Miami winning outright would be the best scenario for us, because of the parlays with Lakers moneyline. Good two-way action on the total, with a little bit more parlays on the Over."
UPDATE 2:30 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: Despite the tick downward in the line at DraftKings, 60 percent of tickets and 71 percent of dollars bet are going to Los Angeles. The total is stable at 217.5, although 74 percent of bets and 82 percent of money are on the Over.
UPDATE 8 P.M. ET TUESDAY: "We already need the Heat," BetMGM Nevada's Stoneback said. "There's a little sharp money on the 'dog, but the public is all over the Lakers." There's been little interest in the total so far, though it ticked from 218 to 217.5.
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The Lakers were taking 64 percent of tickets and 72 percent of money on the spread Monday at DraftKings. And early bettors liked the Over, too, to the tune of 80 percent of tickets and 94 percent of dollars.
Odds to win the NBA championship
UPDATE 8 P.M. ET TUESDAY: It appears there's been a little interest in the Heat at +300 to win this best-of-7 series, as they are now down to +280 at DraftKings. Correspondingly, the Lakers moved from -400 to -375.
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DraftKings opened the series price at Lakers -400/Heat +300, and that was also stable through Monday night.
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