Lakers vs Heat Game 6 NBA Finals Picks and Odds

• The Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat play Game 6 of the NBA Finals on Sunday (Oct. 11, 7:30 pm EST)
• Miami took Game 5 111-108, but still trail the best-of-7 series 3-2
• See below for a betting preview and prediction for Game 6

The Miami Heat just won’t go away. Down 3-1 in the NBA Finals and trailing late in the 4th quarter, Miami summoned what little energy they had left to steal Game 5 from the Los Angeles Lakers, and force a Game 6.

1 win away from being 1 win away.

— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) October 10, 2020

Both teams will have Saturday to recover from their Game 5 thriller, before resuming their series on Sunday, at 7:30 pm EST.

Lakers vs Heat Game 6 Odds

Odds taken from FanDuel on October 9th

Miami has been at least a 7.5-point underdog in each of the four previous games in the Lakers vs Heat odds, but opened at +5 for Game 6. Perhaps the shorter line is reflective of the injury status of LA forward Anthony Davis, or perhaps online sportsbooks are starting to realize that Jimmy Butler just won’t let his team lose.

Jimmy Buckets Delivers in the Clutch

Butler poured in 35 points and added 12 rebounds, 11 assists, 5 steals and a block in a Game 5 masterpiece. He became just the second player in NBA history with two 30-point triple-doubles in the same Finals, and also the second player to record a 30-point triple-double with 5 steals in a playoff game.

Jimmy Butler wasn't going home tonight.

♨️ 35 Pts
♨️ 12 Reb
♨️ 11 Ast
♨️ 12-12 FT
♨️ 47 Min pic.twitter.com/PLONijIBRa

— ESPN (@espn) October 10, 2020

The Heat outscored the Lakers 15-9 over the final four and a half minutes, with Butler accounting for 8 of those points, and an assist on one of Duncan Robinson’s seven 3’s. Jimmy Buckets played a game-high 47 minutes and despite looking completely exhausted in moments, answered the bell at both ends every time Miami needed a key stop or bucket.

How Hobbled is AD?

At multiple points during Game 5, Lakers fans were left holding their breath as Anthony Davis lay on the court or hopped around in agony. In the final few minutes, Davis was a non-factor and looked like he could barely put any pressure on his right foot.

The Lakers might be in trouble for Game 6 depending on the strength of Anthony Davis’s ankle…

— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) October 10, 2020

If AD is less than a 100% come Sunday, that would be a huge blow for LA’s Game 6 prospects. He and LeBron James combined for 68 points on Friday, and were two of only three Lakers players to hit double-figures.

A limited AD would put even more pressure on LeBron, who was basically a one-man show for most of the second half.

Lebron James found Danny Green this wide open for the game winning shot, but y’all mad at Lebron for not taking the shot! 🤦🏾‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/JmceePvA7z

— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) October 10, 2020

James racked up a game-high 40 points, to go along with 13 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals and 3 blocks, and set Danny Green up perfectly for a series-winning three. Of course Green bricked it, barely grazing the front rim, and a subsequent Markieff Morris turnover sealed the game for Miami.

The Heat is On in Game 6

While only three Lakers hit double-figures, all five Heat starters scored at least 10 points, as did reserve Kendrick Nunn. LA received barely any production from its bench, who combined to shoot 5-for-22, and with Davis’ health in limbo, the Heat appear to have the advantage in Game 6.

GUTS. pic.twitter.com/URX3Sltk9Q

— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) October 10, 2020

Of course, the Lakers still feature arguably one of the greatest players of all-time in James, and if anyone is capable of carrying a team to a title on his own, it’s him.

Miami however has been a cover machine throughout this series and the entire playoffs, and +5 seems like a hard price to pass up. The Heat are 4-1 ATS in this series, and are 16-4 against the number in the 2020 postseason.

Pick: Miami Heat +5 (-110)