Eastern Conference Matchup: Cavs vs. Heat

Many BetOnline Sportsbook customers who follow the NBA very closely have concluded that the Cleveland Cavaliers will wind up being the top seed in the Eastern Conference when the season comes to a close. On Monday night the Cavs will visit the Miami Heat in NBA betting action that is set to get underway at 8 PM ET at the Phillips Arena in Atlanta.

NBA Basketball Sports Betting

Cleveland Cavaliers (45-12 SU, 37-20 ATS) at Miami Heat (31-27 SU, 27-30-1 ATS)

BetOnline NBA Odds: CLEVELAND -3, Total 186.5

Here are some of the NBA pro basketball sports betting trends as they relate to this matchup:

* CLEV has covered five of its last eight games

* CLEV has won seven of its last eight games SU

* CLEV has played five of its last seven games UNDER the total

* CLEV has won nine of its last 12 road games SU

* MIA has covered three of its last ten games

* MIA has played four of its last six games OVER the total

* MIA has won five of its last seven home games SU

* MIA has covered two of its last six home games

* MIA has played six of its last eight home games OVER the total

Also…

* CLEV has won four of the last five meetings SU

* MIA has covered five of the last seven meetings

* Six of the last nine meetings have gone UNDER the total

* MIA has won ten of the last 11 meetings SU as the home team

* Ten of the last 13 meetings in Miami have gone UNDER the total

* CLEV has had the rebounding edge in four of the last six meetings

* CLEV has made more three-pointers in seven of the last ten meetings

These two teams played a home-and-home series in December, with the Cavs taking the first game on December 28 by a 93-86 score, with the Heat turning around two nights later and chalking up a 104-95 decision. Last night Cleveland had to go down to the wire to beat the Atlanta Hawks by an 88-87 count, while Miami had a day off after beating the Knicks 120-115 – a game in which they trailed by 15 points in the fourth quarter but went on a 19-0 run to take the game over.

After a 55-point game against Milwaukee on Feb. 20, LeBron James followed with efforts of 20, 15 and 21 points, then had 30 points against the Hawks and sank a free throw with 1.6 seconds left to bring home the win. It was one of those situations where James was defended well by Al Horford but got the call. Stars get calls. Welcome to the NBA.

Cleveland is a half-game ahead of the Boston Celtics in the battle for first place in the East and home court advantage on that half of the playoff draw, but right now the Cavs have some banged-up people. Ben Wallace just broke his leg, Sasha Pavlovic has a sprained ankle, and Delonte West, who is actually in the lineup, still hasn’t completely gotten over his wrist injury. Rookie J.J. Hickson is going to be counted on a little more until the Cavs get some help for their bench (Joe Smith is being pursued).

In Miami’s last three home games, it has shot 51% (against Philadelphia), 50% (against Detroit) and 48,5% (against New York). Certainly the Cavaliers, who surrender only 90.5 points a game (best in the NBA) pose a different defensive challenge. Miami is in a nice groove at home lately, though, and the Heat don’t have a bad defensive lineup out there either, with Mario Chalmers (1.9 steals a game), forwards Yakhouba Diawara and Udonis Haslem and shot-blocker Jermaine O’Neal in the middle. With Atlanta’s loss to Cleveland, Miami can pull a little closer in the race for the East’s #4 playoff spot.

We’re taking the points with the Miami Heat, the three-point underdog in the BetOnline NBA pro basketball sports betting odds.

JAY’S PLAY: MIAMI +3 **

(Graded on a scale of 1-4 stars)