The Los Angeles Clippers (25-25) head to South Beach Friday to play the Miami Heat (31-17) at the FTX Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Clippers vs. Heat odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions and bets.
This is the Clippers’ sixth game of an eight-game road swing. They are 3-2 straight-up (SU) and 4-1 against the spread (ATS) through the first five games. L.A. has won back-to-back games, which includes a rally from a 35-point deficit to stun Washington Tuesday.
Miami blasted the New York Knicks 110-96 Wednesday, improving to 8-2 SU/ATS over the past 10 games. The Heat are 17-5 SU and 14-8 ATS at home.
The Clippers (-5) came back from a 15-point, first-quarter deficit to beat the Heat 112-109 in their first meeting this season (Nov. 11). Also, the Over cashed on a 211.5-point total.
Also see: Bet Slippin’ Podcast: NBA January 28 breakdown
Clippers at Heat odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 2:50 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Clippers +260 (bet $100 to win $260) | Heat -340 (bet $340 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Clippers +7.5 (-122) | Heat -7.5 (-102)
- Over/Under (O/U): 210.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
PLAY: Free, daily sports pick’em contests. Play now!
Clippers at Heat key injuries
Clippers
- SG Paul George (elbow) out
- SF Marcus Morris (personal) out
Heat
- SF Jimmy Butler (toe) questionable
- PG Kyle Lowry (personal) out
- PF Morris Markief (return to competition reconditioning) out
Deposit $10 or more, get $100 in instant bet credits at Tipico Sportsbook! New customer offer in CO and NJ. 21+, see Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. Place your legal, online sports bets at Tipico. Let’s make this interesting. Bet now!
Clippers at Heat odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Heat 113, Clippers 102
Money line
PASS.
Miami is obviously the correct side but the Heat’s -340 ML is way out of my price range for an NBA regular-season favorite. Miami’s ML is expensive because Butler is listed as “questionable.”
Against the spread
BET the HEAT -7.5 (-102).
Miami should win by double digits if Butler plays. If he sits, the Heat could still win by double digits. The reason is the Heat have two “strength-on-weakness” edges over L.A. on the glass and with ball security.
The Heat are fifth in both offensive-rebounding rate and defensive-turnover rate (TOV%). The Clippers are 29th in defensive-rebounding rate and 23rd in offensive TOV%.
Miami scores above-average points off of turnovers and second-chance points per game (PPG). L.A.’s defense ranks in the bottom 10 of the NBA in points off of turnovers and second-chance PPG allowed.
The Heat should be motivated to snap the six-game losing streak to the Clippers (Miami is 5-1 ATS in those games). In fact, Miami hasn’t beaten L.A. since acquiring Butler prior to the 2019-20 season.
Butler missed the first Clippers-Heat meeting this season, whereas L.A.’s now-injured George scored a team-high 27 points.
Finally, the Clippers struggle against quality competition and the Heat don’t. L.A. is 8-10 ATS versus teams above-.500, while Miami is 15-6 ATS and 7-2 ATS at home versus teams above-.500.
BET the HEAT -7.5 (-102).
Over/Under
SLIGHT LEAN to the OVER 210.5 (-110) for a quarter-unit.
Miami is third in true-shooting percentage but is 28th in 3-point attempts per game allowed. L.A. is eighth in 3-point shooting percentage.
Also, the Clippers have been red-hot shooting 3’s lately, hitting 39.3% from behind the arc over the past eight games. For a perspective on that stat, the Chicago Bulls lead the NBA in 3-point percentage at 37.8%.
Bet legally online with a trusted partner: Tipico Sportsbook, Sportsbook Wire’s official sportsbook partner in CO, NJ and, soon, IA. Bet now!
If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW. Please gamble responsibly.
Follow Geoff Clark on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
Additional NBA sports coverage:
HoopsHype | Celtics Wire | LeBron Wire | Lonzo Wire | Nets Wire | Rockets Wire | Sixers Wire | Thunder Wire | Warriors Wire | Rookie Wire | List Wire
Gannett may earn revenue from Tipico for audience referrals to betting services. Tipico has no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. See Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. 21+ only. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA).
[lawrence-newsletter]
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1622]