NBA Finals 2020 Game 2: Lakers Vs. Heat Schedule, TV Channel, Stream, Time, Odds, Predictions

Game 2 of the 2020 NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat tips off in just a few short hours. The Lakers convincingly took Game 1 to start the series and now find themselves three wins away from their NBA record-tying 17^th title. The Heat were expected to keep things more competitive than they ended up being in the opener, going off as 4.5-point underdogs before losing by an 18-point margin. Injuries played a big factor in that blowout defeat, as the squad lost a pair of key starters in guard Goran Dragic and big man Bam Adebayo on Wednesday. Dragic is likely out for the series after suffering a plantar tear on his left foot, while Adebayo is confirmed to be sidelined for Game 2 while he recovers from a neck strain. Jimmy Butler rolled his ankle in the first half of his first ever NBA Finals game and was seen after the contest wearing a wrap, but Miami’s leading star will be able to play tonight barring a last-minute setback.

Bookmakers are projecting another Lakers victory on Friday night, setting the line on Game 2 at LAL -10. That is over a five-point swing in Los Angeles’ direction from the Game 1 betting odds, due in no small part to the rash of injuries that ravaged the Heat roster. The public was relatively supportive of Miami at the start of the 2020 NBA Finals—drawing nearly half of all bets for the first matchup—but many are jumping ship after the ugly loss. The Lakers are now responsible for 63% of the wagers made against the spread and a whopping 81% of the betting handle.

Oddsmakers have pegged the Game 2 over/under at 217.5 points, a total that most of the public expects to be eclipsed in this matchup despite the first game going under the 217-point total. 61% of the tickets have been written on the over side for tonight, but the sharps are making contrarian play, evidenced by 68% of cash on the under. There is a decent amount of rooting interest on the Heat to pull off a shocking outright upset, with the team generating 47% of moneyline bets and 45% of the handle. At +450 odds, Miami would return $4.50 for each $1 risked, a drastically different ML than the +190 odds the Heat were given on Wednesday. Los Angeles is -600 chalk for Game 2, meaning one would need to risk $6 to return a single dollar on the team winning tonight, up significantly from -170 in Game 1.

Those looking for advice on how to bet this critical contest have come to the right place. You can find a pro prediction on the outcome courtesy of Jon Price of SportsInformationTraders.com. Before getting to the Vegas expert’s Lakers-Heat pick, have a look at the complete schedule, start time, TV channel, live stream site, betting trends and more for Game 2 of the 2020 NBA Finals.

2020 NBA Playoffs Bracket

NBA Finals TV And Live Stream Viewing Guide

Game 2, like the rest of the 2020 NBA Finals, will be televised by ABC. All the action will be simulcast on live stream via the ESPN App or WatchESPN site. The contest will be held in the Orlando bubble, which is located at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Walt Disney World, Florida.

Sports Media Watch reported that viewership for the NBA Finals is down drastically to start the series, noting less tuned in to it than a regular season game back in December:

NBA Finals 2020 Scores, Schedule And Start Times

Game 1: Lakers 116 – Heat 98

Game 2: October 2, 9 p.m. ET

Game 3: October 4, 7:30 p.m. ET

Game 4: October 6, 9 p.m. ET

Game 5: October 9, 9 p.m. ET*

Game 6: October 11, 7:30 p.m. ET*

Game 7: October 13, 9 p.m. ET*

*If necessary

The Undefeated revealed that the Lakers will be wearing their “Black Mamba” uniform as a tribute to Kobe Bryant in Game 2:

NBA Finals Betting Odds And Trends

Game 2

Spread: LAL -10

Total: Over/Under 218.5 Points

Moneyline: Lakers -600, Heat +450

Series Line

Los Angeles Lakers -2000 (was -350)

Miami Heat +1200 (was +280)

The current series odds imply over a 95% probability that Los Angeles goes on to win the 2020 NBA Finals after dominating in Game 1, up nearly 20% from before the series began. The Heat’s +1200 odds translate to a shade under a 7% chance to turn things around and pull off an upset, down from a 26% probability going into Game 1.

NBA Central tweeted a discussion between Stugotz and Bill Simmons discussing how the Heat could level the playing field:

NBA Finals Pro Picks And Predictions

Game 2 Picks: Lakers -10, Under 217.5

Game 2 Prediction: Lakers 113 – Heat 95