The Miami Heat ruined the party at Madison Square Garden on Saturday afternoon, stealing Game 1 on the road to take an early lead in the series. The opening Heat-Knicks series odds gave New York a slight edge in Round 2, but updated Heat-Knicks series odds show just how massive Sunday’s win was for the Heat.
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Updated Heat-Knicks Series Odds: Miami Gets Crucial Game 1 Win
Per DraftKings Sportsbook, the Heat (-155) are now the favorites over the Knicks (+130) to win the second round series and advance in the NBA Playoffs. They were able to overcome a slow start on Sunday and pull away in the second half en route to an impressive 108-101 win.
Miami used a balanced scoring attack in Game 1. Jimmy Butler kept his stretch of clutch playoff play going with a team-high 25 points. Gabe Vincent added 20 points, with Kyle Lowry and Bam Adebayo coming up huge down the stretch in the fourth quarter.
The biggest concern for Miami now centers around Butler’s right ankle. The star forward rolled the ankle and stayed on the floor for an extended period of time after attempting a mid-range jumper in the fourth quarter. He would stay in the game, but was sporting a significant limp and did not remain as aggressive for the remainder of the game.
Knicks’ big man Julius Randle is also suffering from a bad ankle. He was held out of Game 1 with a sprained right ankle after coming in as a game-time decision.
Given the star power both Randle and Butler possess, their injury recovery will be huge storylines in the coming days. Luckily for the Heat, they have already notched a road win and can now hope Butler gets his ankle as close to 100% as possible for the remainder of the series.
Based on the updated Heat-Knicks series odds, we could still have a classic showdown on our hands. But the win in Game 1 was a huge get for Miami, and the betting line reflects it.
Bettors looking for the best value for the remainder of the NBA Playoffs should be sure to check out OddsShopper tools, including the Parlay Builder!
