2024-25 Miami Heat-Cleveland Cavaliers First-Round Series: Game 1 Best Bets

Heat Cavaliers — Game 1 between the Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers is Sunday at 7:00 p.m. EST. (Mandatory Credit: AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

The 2024-25 NBA Postseason has officially arrived, with the Miami Heat securing the No. 8 seed for the third-straight year. The test ahead is a big one–figuratively and literally–against the Cleveland Cavaliers, who had one of the best seasons in franchise history. For more on that, click here!

While we’re hot, we’re keeping the best bet columns to hopefully win you some coin on Easter Sunday! I can’t say I’m a good sports gambler (I’m not), but we went 4-2 in our single bets across both play-in games. Let’s have a clean sweep!

What are our best bets heading into Game 1 against Cleveland? Check them out below!

Note: All odds are courtesy of Fanduel Sportsbook!)

Ty Jerome o11.5 PTS + AST (-128):

You could make a case that Jerome was one of the most reliable bench guards in the NBA, averaging 12.5 points and 3.4 assists in 70 games. In each of his three games with the Heat, he had 20, 27 and 13 points plus assists–two of those (20, 13) coming with both Mitchell and Garland in the lineup.

He’s played at least 19 minutes in 15 of his last 20 when both play. Over his last 20 games playing between 18-25 minutes, he’s averaging 10.3 field goal attempts and 6.2 potential assists. One could assume that he shares the floor with at least one of Garland or Mitchell, who will see plenty of Davion Mitchell (more on him below) and Andrew Wiggins throughout the series. Miami’s point-of-attack lacks outside of those two, and Jerome can get downhill and operate off-ball alongside either as a deadeye shooter (43.9 3P%).

He’s eclipsed this PA line in 28 of his 30 games with at least nine field goal attempts and nine potentials, including each of his last seven. I love this line against a Heat defense that has allowed nine of the last 12 PGs they faced to exceed their PA line.

Davion Mitchell o14.5 PTS + AST (-122):

If it’s not broke, don’t fix it. We hit Mitchell’s point line against Chicago; we nailed his PA line against Atlanta. We’re going back to the well again in Game 1. He’s going to see at least 33 minutes, barring foul trouble.

He’s one of the most important players in this series not only because of how important he is defensively against Mitchell and Garland, but for the energy he injects offensively. Mitchell is one of the Heat’s best at generating paint touches, bending a defense and pushing in transition. He’s averaging 20.1 points plus assists over his last 16 games with at least 33 minutes and should be strong enough to play through Cleveland’s physicality. Once again, I love this line.

Miami Heat: 3 biggest X-Factors ahead of first-round series versus Cavaliers

Jarrett Allen u24.5 PR (-125):

Against the Heat, Allen has missed this line in his last six matchups against Miami, recording more than 12 rebound chances just once. There is a world where he imposes his will against a skinnier Kel’el Ware and is too much for the Heat. But Miami owns the league’s fourth-best defensive rebounding percentage and allow the seventh-fewest PR’s to opposing centers. Cleveland will want to seek him out as a vertical spacer and dunker spot hub, but I think his opportunities will be limited in Game 1.

SGP (+812):

Bam Adebayo 10+ rebounds
Tyler Herro 3+ made 3-pointers
Evan Mobley Double-Double (YES)
De’Andre Hunter o11.5 PTS

Let’s ourselves and Easter Sunday, y’all!

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