Sunday night in the Association will feature this great interconference matchup! It's time to continue our NBA odds series with a Lakers-Heat prediction and pick.
The Los Angeles Lakers are the biggest disappointment in the NBA right now. There is just no reason for them to be losing games with the talent on that roster, especially to the teams they are losing to. LA is even with 23 wins and 23 losses, putting them seventh in the Western Conference. The Lakers are coming off of a win against the Orlando Magic but lost to the Indiana Pacers the game before.
The Miami Heat are playing extremely well right now. They are 29-17 which is good for third in the East. Bam Adebayo returned to the team and they are fully healthy for the most part. Miami is in a great position to earn their way to the top seed in the East, and a win over the Lakers will help with that. They are just a half-game outside the top spot. With a win today, and losses from the Brooklyn Nets and Chicago Bulls, the Heat take over the top spot.
Here are the Lakers-Heat NBA odds, courtesy of FanDuel.
NBA Odds: Lakers-Heat Odds
Los Angeles Lakers: +2 (-106)
Miami Heat: -2 (-114)
Over: 215.5 (-112)
Under: 215.5 (-110)
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Why The Lakers Could Cover The Spread
LeBron James needs to continue his domination if they want to cover this spread. He needs to go back into Miami like it's 2013 if they want to win this game. The Heat are a very good team and James and the Lakers are aware of it. With the way Russell Westbrook is playing, it just seems very difficult for the Lakers to win this game. Miami is 15-5 at home and the Lakers are 8-11 on the road. LA will need to find a way to excel on the road and win in a place that is not easy to win at.
They are only being given a few points on the road here, so the Lakers will likely need to win this game if they want to cover this spread. Unless the Heat wins on a buzzer-beater, the Lakers might be forced to have to win this game in order to cover.
These teams play for the second time this season. LA won 120-117 in overtime led by 27 points off the bench from Malik Monk. Adebayo scored 28 for the Heat and that will likely happen again without Anthony Davis for the Lakers defending him. LA will need Monk or Carmelo Anthony to step up and play well. Westbrook will likely not play well and James can't do it on his own anymore, not against a team this good. LA is 6-4 in their last 10 games allowing 113 points per game. That is not a recipe for success.
Why The Heat Could Cover The Spread
Miami will be without a few crucial players in this one. Markieff Morris, Kyle Lowry, and Tyler Herro will all miss this game for different reasons. That is major depth for the Heat and without them, their chances decrease a little. If they were all healthy the Heat would likely have a higher spread, but where it is now is a good spot for them. They are favored at home which is the right call. Miami has defended well and that will be the factor to covering this spread tonight. The Heat are holding their opponents to just 105.8 points per game, far better than LA. That must continue so that James and Anthony on the Lakers don't continue to get to the basket with easy points.
The Heat were short-handed against the Atlanta Hawks last time out and it showed. It was tough for them to get productive shooting without Lowry and Herro. Duncan Robinson shot 5-10 from three which proves to be their only shooter at the moment. Gabe Vincent also went 4-7 from beyond the arc but we need to see more production out of him if we are going to see consistent numbers like that. If those two find a way to light up the scoreboard, then the Heat will cover this spread. Miami is also 6-4 in their last 10 games, averaging 111 points per game.
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Final Lakers-Heat Prediction & Pick
This isn't an easy one to pick. Miami is at home and seem like the better team right now even with the injuries. The Lakers are inconsistent even though they have LeBron James. I think James will play extremely well and keep the Lakers in it, but with the spread where it's at, give me the Miami Heat.
Final Lakers-Heat Prediction & Pick: Heat -2 (-114)
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