For a solid bet, you couldn’t beat Heat

Gamblers who like to bet on NBA games will have special interest in today’s matchup between the Lakers and Miami, with Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks expected to make their Heat debuts at American Airlines Arena.

Why? Because bettors simply don’t want to see the Miami money train come to an end.

Coach Pat Riley’s team has lost 23 of its last 25 games -- including six in a row -- and covered the point spread only five times since Dec. 10.

But that was before the Heat traded Shaquille O’Neal to Phoenix for Marion and Banks, who could provide a spark to a struggling Miami team that has a 6-25 record against the spread in its last 31 home games.

Oddsmakers do not give the Heat much of a chance of turning things around against the Lakers, who are 2-1 since Pau Gasol was picked up in a trade from Memphis.

But even before Gasol joined the lineup, the Lakers were on a solid roll against the spread. They have covered the line in six of their last seven games and five of their last six road games, including Friday night’s 117-113 victory at Orlando.

AccuScore.com, which simulates every game 10,000 times, has the Lakers showing a slight improvement with Gasol in the current lineup, but predicts a much different story once big man Andrew Bynum returns off the injured list.

“When Gasol does not have to be the primary big man as the main rebounder and scorer in the post, the Lakers improve by a whopping six percentage points,” said Jonathan Lee of AccuScore.com.

Most sports boards believe the Lakers have improved their chances of winning this season’s NBA championship with the addition of Gasol.

In the latest odds listed at Sportsbetting.com, the Lakers are at 4-1 behind only Boston, which holds down the favorite role at 5-2.

Phoenix and San Antonio are listed at 9-2.

Baseball

Here are three proposition baseball bets available at Bodoglife.com:

Will Major League Baseball suspend or fine Pedro Martinez for his participation in cockfighting? Yes (+110) or No (-150); How many games will pitcher Erik Bedard win this season playing for the Seattle Mariners? Over/under 16.5 games; What will Bedard’s earned-run average be? Over 3.00 (-130) or Under 3.00 (even).

lonnie.white@latimes.com