Just when it looked like the Atlanta Hawks had seized momentum in their series against the Miami Heat with a final-seconds Game 3 victory … the final three quarters of Game 4 happened. Now the Hawks return to South Beach needing a victory to save their season. Despite remaining an underdog on the NBA playoff odds board for Game 5, Atlanta’s chances for that victory got a little better Tuesday afternoon when news broke that Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler won’t play.
Following Sunday’s blowout road win, Miami was a sizable favorite to close out its best-of-7 first-round series at home in Game 5. However, the odds were quickly adjusted when Butler — who had 36 points and 10 rebounds in Game 4 — unexpectedly was ruled out about three hours before tip-off.
Props.com grabs insights from multiple oddsmakers on NBA playoff odds for Hawks vs. Heat Game 5. Check back for additional updates through Tuesday’s tipoff.
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NBA Playoff Odds And Action
No. 8 Atlanta Hawks vs No. 1 Miami Heat (7 p.m. ET)
UPDATE 6:30 P.M. ET TUESDAY: Late Sunday night, Miami hit DraftKings’ NBA playoffs odds board as a 7-point favorite for Game 5. After a quick juice adjustment to -7/-115, the Heat ticked up to -7.5 shortly before 7 a.m. ET today, then fell to -6.5 about two hours later. The spread remained Miami -6.5 under Heat forward Jimmy Butler was ruled out with a knee injury. The number immediately plunged to Miami -4 and held there until rising to -4.5 moments ago.
There’s two-way action on the spread, with the home team accounting for 68% of all tickets at DraftKings, but the visiting Hawks catching 51% of the dough.
The total started at 217.5 and held there for almost 36 hours before inching down to 217. After the Butler news hit, DraftKings adjusted the total down to 215, and it’s since dipped to 215. Betting action mirrors the line moves on the total, with 56% of all wagers and 65% of the loot on the Under.
UPDATE 4:40 P.M. ET TUESDAY: Butler’s name was not on Miami’s injury report, so it was a shock when the Heat (56-30 SU, 49-36-1 ATS) suddenly downgraded their All-Star to out because of right knee inflammation.
Butler is averaging 30.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 2.8 steals in the series against the Hawks (46-42 SU, 40-48 ATS). He’s also scored at least 20 points in nine consecutive games. Butler extended that streak Sunday with his game-high 36 points in the Heat’s 110-86 victory in Atlanta.
Not only is Butler out, but Miami shooting guard Kyle Lowry — who injured his left hamstring in Game 3 and sat out Game 4 — once again will be in street clothes Tuesday night.
The Hawks — who got back in the series with Friday’s 111-110 victory as a 2-point home underdog only to tumble Sunday — also have injury concerns. Small forward Bogdan Bogdanovic (right knee) is questionable, as is center Clint Cappella (right knee). However, both played in Game 4, both participated in morning shootaround Tuesday, and both are expected to play.
Down 3-1 in the series, Atlanta needs all hands on deck as it faces elimination after a disappointing performance in Game 4. The Hawks actually took a one-point lead after the first quarter Sunday, only to then get outscored 85-60 the rest of the way.
The loss snapped Atlanta’s five-game SU and ATS home winning streak, and dropped Trae Young and Co. to 2-10 SU/ATS in their last 12 contests overall. Atlanta also is mired in ATS slumps of 8-20 on the road and 6-21 as a road underdog.
Conversely, the Heat enter Game 5 on a 9-2 SU/ATS roll, including 5-0 SU/ATS at home (all as a favorite). Of course, that was all with Butler healthy and on the floor.
Miami is now 6-2 SU/ATS against the Hawks this season. The SU winner has cashed in the last 15 series clashes.
Game 4 never came close to touching the 221-point total, making the Under 4-0 in this series. What’s more, the Under for Atlanta is on runs of 8-0 as an underdog and 14-2 as a road pup. The Heat have stayed low in 14 of 16 when going off as favorites.
Following the news on Butler, WynnBet — which had installed Miami as a 7-point favorite on the NBA playoff odds board for Game 5 — dropped the number three points to Heat -4 (-108). The total, which opened at 218, also took a tumble down to 215.5 because of Butler’s absence.
As of late Monday afternoon, a large majority of the early action was tilting the Heat’s way, at 73% tickets and 91% dollars. The total saw early two-way action, with 60% of the tickets on the Over and 71% of the cash on the Under.
