Eastern Conference Semifinals
Game 5 - Miami leads series 3-1
Tip-off: Wednesday, 7:00 p.m. ET
Line: Miami -14.5, Total: 182

The Miami Heat can advance to the Eastern Conference Finals with a home win over the Bulls on Wednesday night in Game 5.

After splitting the first two games of series when playing in Miami, the Heat went into Chicago and took care of business by winning both games at United Center, including an 88-65 blowout in Monday's Game 4. Since dropping Game 1 at home, Miami has now covered in three straight games (outscoring the Bulls by 70 points) to improve to 6-2 ATS during this year's playoffs. The Bulls, on the other hand, are just 4-7 ATS since the playoffs began. During the regular season, Heat were 37-4 SU, but a mediocre 22-19 ATS when playing at AmericanAirlines Arena. Chicago has been a strong road team this season at 24-23 SU (26-20 ATS), but is 2-3 ATS in its past five trips to Miami. After getting a spinal tap to test for meningitis, Bulls star SF Luol Deng was active for Game 4 but he did not play any minutes. He could see his first action of the series in Game 5, but PG Kirk Hinrich (calf) is doubtful. Heat SG Dwyane Wade hasn't been 100 percent because of a knee injury, but he is expected to start on Wednesday night.

Can the Heat finish off this series in blowout fashion? For the answer, connect to NBA Playoffs Best Bets for all the Expert picks throughout the entire 2013 postseason. For NBA Playoff Best Bets, StatFox Gary is 73% ATS (8-3) for the month of May and 56% ATS (14-11) for the entire playoffs, while StatFox Brian is 64.3% ATS (9-5) since April 29 and 55.2% ATS (16-13) for the entire playoffs. In terms of overall records for all postseason games, StatFox Dave is 59.1% ATS (13-9) since May 3, while Gary and Brian are both 56% ATS (10-8) since May 4. For NBA Totals, the experts have a combined 56% NBA Totals success rate (42-33-4) in the playoffs. StatFox Scott is 88% (7-1) in Totals since May 6 to increase his postseason mark to 60% (12-8-2). Gary is 64% (16-9-1) on playoff Totals, while Dave is 57.1% (4-3).

The Bulls really struggled to score the basketball in Game 4 and really missed PG Kirk Hinrich and SF Luol Deng. Chicago shot just 25.7% FG, including 2-of-17 threes (12%). The starting backcourt of PG Nate Robinson and SG Marco Belinelli failed to show up, as they were completely shut down by Miami’s defense. Robinson didn’t have a single point in the game (0-for-12 FG, 0-for-5 threes) after carrying the Bulls offense at times in these playoffs. Belinelli netted just nine points (3-of-8 FG, 0-of-5 threes) with a minus-21 rating in 26 minutes. Chicago’s leading scorer was PF Carlos Boozer, who had 14 points on a dreadful 3-of-14 shooting, but he did have a game-high 12 rebounds (5 offensive) in 32 minutes. Most of Boozer’s points, however, came from the free throw line where he was 8-of-12. SG Richard Hamilton played 22 minutes off the bench in Game 4, finishing with 11 points (4-of-11 FG, 2-of-3 threes) and four assists in the contest. Chicago could use a boost from SF Luol Deng next game, but with the series heading back to Miami down 3-1, Chicago will need a miracle to come back and win.

After dropping Game 1 in Miami, the Heat have now won three straight games and they have done so behind the excellent play of LeBron James. In Game 4, James was all over the court as he poured in 27 points (9-of-20 FG), eight assists, seven rebounds and two steals. Outside of James, PF Chris Bosh was the only other Heat player to score in double-digits, finishing with 14 points (7-of-10 FG), six rebounds and an impressive four blocks in 35 minutes. The duo combined for a +48 rating on Wednesday. The Heat are going to need to get SG Dwyane Wade going if they are going to repeat as NBA champions. Wade scored just six points (3-of-10 FG) in Game 4 and is averaging just 12.3 PPG this postseason as he deals with a sore right knee. Wade appeared to re-injure the knee on Wednesday, but he is listed as probable for Game 5.