Monday NBA Game of the Day: Greg Frank picks Pacers vs Heat where T.J. Warren is a game-time decision

Pacers (+3.5) @ Heat (221.5)

Pick: Heat -3.5

It’s the Jimmy Butler vs T.J. Warren rematch NBA fans have been waiting for! Well, maybe. Warren is listed as a game-time decision with a sore foot. I don’t blame you if you forgot the scuffle these two got into back in January. A lot has changed since then, and Warren has looked unconscious in the NBA bubble having topped 30 points in four of Indiana’s five seeding games. In all likelihood, these two teams are going to play each other in the first round, unless the Sixers jump one of them. That would force the Pacers or the Heat to play the Celtics in the opening round but with Ben Simmons out and potentially Joel Embiid for Philly, we wouldn’t count on the Sixers getting hot. The better bet is the Pacers and Warren to cool off. Domantas Sabonis remains sidelined for Indiana and until he returns, we can’t consider the Pacers Miami’s equal. For what it’s worth, the Heat won the aforementioned game in January by 14 points in Indianapolis. There’s been some support for Miami after this game opened with the Heat as a two-point favorite and while it’s not the best of the number, we’re comfortable laying 3.5 to back the team from South Beach.