Will the NBA season end today?
That depends on two questions entering Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Monday. Will the top-seeded Denver Nuggets continue to exert their superior talent and chemistry without feeling too comfortable with a 3-1 series lead? Or will the eighth-seeded Miami Heat overachieve and refuse to quit once again?
Perhaps both developments happen. Below is our full Game 5 preview on what to expect along with odds provided by our presenting sponsor – Betfred Sportsbook.
Miami Heat at Denver Nuggets (Monday, 5:30 pm ET, ABC)
Spread: Denver (-9)
Over/Under: 205.5
Expect Game 5’s start to mirror most close-out games. The team with the commanding lead (Denver) will try to set the tone early in hopes to deflate its opponent’s hopes (Miami). The trailing team (Miami) will exert its effort to the max, knowing that its season hangs in the balance.
What happens next will likely decide the outcome. If the Nuggets push full throttle and create a sizable lead, the Heat won’t necessarily quit. Since when has Miami ever conceded defeat? By then, though, the Heat simply won’t have enough depth to keep the game close. If Miami takes advantage of Denver’s possible slow start, expect a competitive game until the buzzer sounds. Though the Nuggets have absorbed the Heat’s runs in past games, Miami only needs some momentum to turn that into an upset.
It appears most likely, though, that the Nuggets end Game 5 with hoisting their first Larry O’Brien trophy in franchise history. After losing Game 2 at home, the Nuggets already learned the hard way that the Heat will take take advantage if their opponent doesn’t fully compete. Denver will benefit from an excited fanbase eager to witness history. And, frankly, the Nuggets have shown they are drastically superior than the Heat.
Final score prediction: Nuggets 113, Heat 103
Betting pick: Denver (-9)
Mark Medina is a veteran NBA reporter who will be contributing to Aaron Torres Online and Aaron Torres Media throughout the NBA playoffs - follow him on Twitter and on Instagram.
To get full odds on the entire NBA Playoffs visit Betfred Sportsbook
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