Heat’s James disappears again in fourth period

Chicken soup and sleep helped Dirk Nowitzki overcome a fever and flu. He still has a torn tendon in his left middle finger, and there’s no fixing it, but he’s playing so well that problem has been forgotten.

Excuses are available, yet Nowitzki needs none.

On the other hand, LeBron James is losing this high-stakes game of chicken, and he’s down to two chances to change how he will be remembered from the NBA Finals.

“I expect LeBron to show up in a big way in Game 6,” said Mike

Colbert, the Cantor Gaming sports book director. “But who knows?”

LeBron was expected to show up in a big way in Game 5, too, but the incredibly shrinking superstar faded again in the fourth quarter.

Nowitzki got the help he needed to lead the Dallas Mavericks to a 112-103 victory over Dwyane Wade’s Miami Heat team Thursday night. As a result, the Mavericks own a 3-2 edge in a series that is a virtual coin flip. The adjusted price is minus-110 both ways as the Heat return home for the final two games, if Game 7 is necessary.

LeBron fans are tired of me bashing their hero, but it’s time to admit the truth. Wade has been sensational in this series, as has Nowitzki. The difference is James has failed to bring a prime-time game.

Last summer, when he starred in “The Decision,” James asked for the role of The Most Interesting Man in the World, the basketball god who dances in smoke and lives vicariously through himself.

He even hit Twitter at 2:27 a.m. Eastern time Thursday to post “Now or Never!!” He hyped Game 5 as the biggest of his career. It turned out to be just another disappointment.

James put up a triple-double with 17 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. It’s all about the fourth quarter, though, and that’s when James has been an invisible man. He scored two points in the fourth, and those two came in the final minute when the Mavericks surrendered his layup.

In the fourth quarters of this series, Nowitzki has outscored James 52-11, including 24-3 at the free-throw line.

“The bottom line is LeBron can’t shoot. The defenders are laying off him, and he can’t barrel his way to the hoop, so he’s throwing up bricks. When he makes a 3, it’s more luck than anything,” Colbert said. “I do like LeBron, and I’m not a Heat hater.”

The line opened Dallas minus-1½ and closed Pick at most Las Vegas books. But early Thursday afternoon, one book went to Miami minus-1½.

“It was a slow line movement,” Colbert said. “It was all Heat, but to be honest, we didn’t take a limit bet ($100,000) on the game. I didn’t see anything real sharp on Dallas, but the Heat money was public money.”

Golden Nugget sports book director Tony Miller moved the Heat to minus-1 and said, “I’m getting a few hits on the Mavericks. But if LeBron and Wade play together at the same time, the Heat can’t lose.”

Wade played hurt and scored 23 points. He was not the reason the Heat lost.

We all said Nowitzki needed more help from his teammates after the Mavericks lost Game 3. He got it in bunches as Jason Terry scored 21 points, little J.J. Barea stood tall with 17, and Tyson Chandler and Jason Kidd had 13 apiece.

Here’s the play-by-play of a crucial sequence down the stretch: James missed a jumper, Nowitzki dunked, James was called for an offensive foul, James missed a 3-pointer, Kidd hit a 3, Terry hit a 3.

It was by far the highest-scoring game of the series. Miami led 31-30 after the first quarter, and at that point the total of 185 was a lost cause for ‘under’ bettors like myself.

The Heat are 6-point favorites and minus-260 on the money line for Game 6, a game I expect Miami to win.

“I’m looking forward to Sunday. The Mavericks need Dirk to have one of his amazing games,” Colbert said. “You may see some sharp money on Dallas closer to game time. I do think Dallas will win this series.”

Maybe I’m crazy, but I also expect James to show up with his Sunday best. There are no excuses now.

■ BOTTOM LINES — It’s a guessing game whether the NFL regular season will start on time. But there’s no doubt the football betting season kicks off today.

Colbert said Cantor Gaming will open lines at 8:30 a.m. for every game on the NFL’s 17-week schedule. The limit is $2,000 per wager, and the numbers will be up at all four Cantor books (Cosmopolitan, Hard Rock, M Resort and Tropicana.)

The Golden Nugget is opening lines on 105 high-profile college games at noon, and Miller said $1,000 is the bet limit.

Contact sports betting columnist Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907. He co-hosts the “Las Vegas Sportsline” weeknights at midnight on KDWN-AM (720) and thelasvegassportsline.com.