“Cavaliers Clash with Heat: Underdog Rises, Betting Odds Flip—Who Will Seize Victory on April 26?”

The Miami Heat are back in the spotlight as they host the formidable Cleveland Cavaliers this Saturday, in what’s gearing up to be a pivotal Game 3 at Kaseya Center. The stakes could not be higher—for Cleveland, a sweep, for Miami, a chance to stay in the series.

After securing two dominant victories on their home court, the Cavaliers will travel to Miami, where everyone’s eyes will be on Donovan Mitchell, who’s consistently posted 30 points in both games, proving why he’s one of the league’s most electrifying talents. Miami, on the other hand, finds itself in a must-win scenario. Tyler Herro shouldered the scoring load in Game 2, with an impressive 33 points, and his performance today will certainly be key if the Heat want to keep their playoff hopes alive.

The oddsmakers seem to favor the Cavaliers, with their impressive road record and a solid point differential. However, the Heat have been remarkably resilient at home, with a trend of covering the spread in recent games as underdogs.

For fans looking to immerse themselves in every thrilling moment, tuning into TNT for live coverage seems like a no-brainer. They’re in for an interesting game given the recent performance trends from both teams—Cleveland’s consistent playoff road struggles could factor into today’s strategies, or they might just aim to continue their season’s stellar pace. Miami’s style of play at home, somewhat slower and more defensively focused, often sets the stage for grinding, lower-scoring affairs.

For those who like a bit of skin in the game, the details are crunchy: Cavaliers are odds-on favorites at -246, while Miami looks enticing with +200 odds. The spread is set at Cavaliers -6.5, and the over/under is 214 points.

If you’re into doing your homework:

– Vaughn Dalzell (at VmoneySports) favors the Cavaliers 1Q Team Total Under 27.5. Last season, Cleveland’s playoff performance on the road was notably poor, and Miami’s pace could keep that trend alive.

– Our model is cautious about the high-scoring affair and stays away from betting on the game total.

This game isn’t just about bouncing back on the court; it’s about survival in a high-stakes playoff series. For anyone looking to dive deep into predictions, odds, player stats, and expert bets, our comprehensive analysis ensures you’re more than just a spectator—you’ll be part of the action, understanding every angle of this enthralling matchup.

For more in-depth insights, player trends, and game predictions, check out our detailed article—it covers all the bases with our expert staff’s picks and modeling tools designed to help you make informed decisions. LEARN MORE

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions pagefrom NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Game details & how to watch Cavaliers vs. Heat live today

• Date: Saturday, April 26, 2025
• Time: 1:00PM EST
• Site: Kaseya Center
• City: Miami, FL
• Network/Streaming: TNT

Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!

Game odds for Cavaliers vs. Heat

– Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
– Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
– Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
– Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

• Odds: Cavaliers (-246), Heat (+200)
• Spread: Cavaliers -6.5
• Over/Under: 214 points

Cleveland won Game 2 at home, 121-113, after a 21-point blowout win over Miami in Game 1. The series goes back to Miami for Game 3 in an attempt to slow down Donovan Mitchell who scored 30 points in both games. Tyler Herro led Game 2 with 33 points and will be relied on heavily to avoid a sweep.Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.

Expert picks & predictions for Saturday’s Cavaliers vs. Heat game

Rotoworld Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) likes the Cavaliers 1Q Team Total Under 27.5:

The Cavaliers scored 21, 23, and 25 points in the first round at Orlando last year and 28 or more in three at Boston. With Miami’s tempo and style of play, I like this to be a low-scoring first quarter, so I’ll fade the Cavaliers First Quarter Team Total and take the Under 27.5.”That gives the Cavaliers an implied team point total of 109.31, and the Heat 105.92.Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.The latest odds as of Saturday:“Last season, Cleveland went 1-5 on the road in the playoffs and cracked 100 points once in those contests (the only win). While they have been a tank in the regular season this year, there is still no telling if they will look like the same Cavaliers in the first road playoff game this time around.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Cavaliers & Heat game:

• Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Cleveland Cavaliers on the Moneyline.
• Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Miami Heat at +6.5.
• Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 214.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Cavaliers vs. Heat on Saturday

• The Cavaliers have won 4 of their last 5 matchups against Eastern Conference Southeast Division teams
• The Cavaliers’ last 3 matchups against Eastern Conference teams have gone over the Total
• The Heat are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games as a home underdog
• The Heat have covered in their last 4 games as a home underdog

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!It’s Saturday, April 26, and the Cleveland Cavaliers (64-18) and Miami Heat (37-45) are all set to square off from Kaseya Center in Miami.The Cavaliers are currently 30-11 on the road with a point differential of 10, while the Heat have a 4-6 record in their last ten games at home. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.