Miami Heat vs Los Angeles Lakers NBA Betting Preview & Odds
NBA action on Wednesday night and we will see the Miami Heat travel to the Staples Center to take on the Los Angeles Los Angeles Lakers. NBATV will carry this game, which has a start time of 10:30 pm EST.
Current betting odds for this game have the have the Heat listed as 10.5 point favorites, while the total has been set at 207.
Head-To-Head This Year: Miami won the lone matchup 101-88 as 11 point home favorites.
The Miami Heat come in playing some solid ball as they have won four of their last five games, which includes a 2121 point home win over the Cavs. We do not that their other four games over that stretch included a 24 point road loss over the Spurs and three wins vs non-playoff teams. Miami trails the Hawks by just one game for 1st place in the Southeast and their remaining schedule is not easy as it sees them having 6 of tehir final 9 games on the road. Miami is led by Chris Bosh at 19.1 ppg, but he is currently out with a leg injury. Miami may also be missing Goran Dragic (13.9 ppg), who is listed as questionable for this one. That leaves Dwayne Wade to lead the team with his 19.0 ppg average, plus they still have Hassan Whiteside, who has had a very strong season, averaging 14.1 ppg, while ranking 4th in the league in rebounding at 11.7 rpg, 3rd in shooting percentage at 61.7% and leads the league in blocks per game at 3.75 bpg. Joe Johnson has been solid as he has averaged 12.8 ppg in his 15 games with the team so far. Luol Deng (12.0 ppg) rounds out the double digit scorers on the team. Miami has not been a good offensive team this year as they come in ranked 23rd in the league in scoring, putting up just 99.6 ppg, while also ranking 4th in shooting overall, 25th in 3-point shooting and 24th from the charity stripe. The defense has really been what has led this team as they come in ranked 4th in points allowed, giving up just 98.2 ppg, while also ranking 9th in defensive FG% overall and 12th in 3-point defense. On the road the Heat have averaged 96.3 ppg on 45.8% shooting, while allowing just 98.2 ppg on 44.3% shooting.
Trends: The Heat are 20-6 ATS in their last 26 road games vs. a team with a losing home record and 18-7-1 ATS in their last 26 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400, but just 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games following a straight up win, but the favorite is just 4-11 ATS the last 15 in the series. The Over is 8-1 in their last 9 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game, while the Under is 4-1 in their last 5 vs. a team with a losing straight up record.
The kobe Bryant farewell tour is not going as the Lakers would have likes as they come in with the 2nd worst record in the league at 15-59, which includes a 48 road loss to the Jazz in their last game. This is a team that has just given up and they may not win another game this year. Kobe Bryant leads the team in scoring, putting up who averages 17.1 ppg in this his final season in the league, but he is listed as questionable for this game along with Nick Young (7.3 ppg). Lou Williams comes in averaging 15.4, while Jordan Clarkson is next at 15.3 ppg and is the team’s best long range threat at 35.3%. D’Angelo Russell averages 13.1 ppg, while rookie Julius Randle is the team’s leading rebounder at 10.1, while rounding out the double digit scorers on the team at 11.6 ppg. Overall the Lakers enter this game ranked 29th in the league in scoring, putting up just 97.6 ppg, while also ranking 30th in shooting overall and 30th in three point shooting, but they have been decent at the stripe where they are 13th. The defense has not been good at all as they are 27th in points allowed at 107.0 ppg, while also ranking 29th in defensive FG% overall and 14th in 3-point defense. At home the Lakers have averaged 96.9 ppg on 41.5% shooting, while allowing 103.5 ppg on 48.3% shooting.
Trends: The Lakers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning road record, but just 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games following a straight up loss, while the 0-6 ATS in their last 6 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game. The Over is 4-0 in their last 4 games overall, while the Under is 9-2 the last 11 games in this series.
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