The public is loving the warmth in Game 2, but smart money is backing the house side Raptors.

USA TODAY Sports

Tonight’s NBA Playoffs docket features only one game, but we’ve got a trio of sources weighing in at the contest. Covers talks to Aaron Kessler, supervisor on the Golden Nugget sportsbook; Jason Simbal, vice chairman of risk management for CG Technology; and Greg Sindall, senior oddsmaker for online site SportsInteraction.Miami Heat at Toronto Raptors – Open: Raptors -4.5; Move: none

Toronto got a halfcourt heave from Kyle Lowry to force overtime in Game 1 of this Eastern Conference semifinal series on Tuesday night. But Miami still escaped with a road win and canopy in a 102-96 decision as a 3.5-point underdog. The Raptors could be eager to not fall right into a 2-0 hole on their home court, but that fact hasn’t necessarily won over more bettors.

“We’re getting good two-way action,” Kessler said from his downtown Las Vegas book. “The Heat are only so public at this time. People really like them this time.”

Indeed, at CG books in Vegas – including the Cosmopolitan, Venetian and the Palms – the road opened a tick higher at Raptors -5, but was bet all the way down to 4.5.

“So obviously, there’s been some Heat action,” Simbal said. “But we did take a Raptors moneyline bet that was somewhat sharper money. The smarter money have been at the Raptors moneyline, and the general public is taking the warmth plus the points.”

At SportsInteraction, it was a bit of different story, because the online shop opened at Toronto -4.

“We’ve been taking public money at the Raps all day and feature moved to -4.5,” Sindall said. “Right now, 74 percent of the handle is on Toronto. I WOULDN'T be surprised to peer this line move out to five before tipoff.”

Patrick Everson is a Las Vegas-based senior writer for Covers. Follow him on Twitter: @Covers Vegas.

Read More... [Source: Covers.com: NBA News and Stories]