**Heat (2) at Nets (3)**

–Las Vegas Sports Consultants installed New Jersey as a 2 1/2-point home ‘chalk’ over Miami, with the total set at 188. ESPN will provide coverage of Friday’s Game 3 beginning at 8:00 p.m. ET. The Heat are now listed as a $1.40 favorite (bet $140 to win $100) to win this series, while the Nets are a $1.20 underdog (bet $100 to win $120).


–Miami (57-33 straight up, 40-48 against the spread) evened this best-of-seven series at a game apiece after routing New Jersey Wednesday as a 7 1/2-point home ‘chalk,’ 111-89. The combined 200 points went ‘over’ the 187 1/2-point closing total.

–The Heat led throughout the game, and enjoyed a 27-point advantage at one time. Miami stormed out to a 41-19 first-quarter lead, and finished the contest by shooting 53 percent (39-of-74). Dwayne Wade stepped up with 31 points on 12-of-19 shooting, while Shaquille O’Neal added 21 and six rebounds.

–New Jersey (54-36 SU, 43-45 ATS) connected at a 40-percent clip (28-of-70), while Vince Carter led the charge with 22 points and five rebounds. Point guard Jason Kidd accounted for 15 points and six assists, but the team couldn’t overcome its dreary first quarter.

–The Nets had beaten the Heat four times in a row SU and five consecutive games ATS before suffering their Game 2 setback.

–Miami is a modest 22-22 SU and 21-23 ATS on the road, while New Jersey is 31-13 SU and 20-22 ATS on its home court. The Nets have been winning their home endeavors by an average score of 95-91.

**Suns (2) at Clippers (6)**

–LVSC opened Los Angeles as a three-point Staples Center favorite over Phoenix, with the total listed at 215 ½. ESPN begins its coverage of Game 3 at 10:35 p.m. ET. The Suns are currently a $1.30 ‘chalk’ to win this series and advance, while the Clippers are a $1.10 underdog.

–Phoenix (59-32 SU, 49-41 ATS) takes the court for the first time since Wednesday’s lopsided defeat to Los Angeles as a four-point home ‘chalk,’ 122-97. The combined 219 points eclipsed the 216-point closing total, helping the Suns go ‘over’ the total their fifth straight contest. Phoenix was also riding a four-game SU and ATS winning streak before Wednesday’s loss.

–The Suns quickly found themselves in a 38-22 hole after the first quarter, and suffered their biggest deficit (25 points) at the end of the game. Phoenix was dominated in rebounds, 57-26, and points in the paint, 58-36. Guard Raja Bell netted 20 points in the setback, while Leandro Barbosa had 18 off the bench.

–Los Angeles shot a hefty 54 percent (49-of-90) from the field, led by Elton Brand who had a game-high 27 points to go along with 10 rebounds. Guards Sam Cassell and Cuttino Mobley each scored 23 points while combining for 13 rebounds and nine assists. The ‘over’ has cashed the last five games between the Clippers and Suns.

–Phoenix maintains a 24-20 SU and 24-19 ATS road record, with the ‘over’ going a modest 23-20. The Suns have been winning those affairs by an average score of 107-106.

–Los Angeles is 30-14 SU and 22-22 ATS on its home court, with the ‘under’ going a solid 29-15. The Clippers have been winning their home endeavors by an average score of 97-93.

–Los Angeles center Zeljko Rebraca (heart) missed the last contest, and is ‘questionable’ for Friday’s Game 3.