The Los Angeles Lakers (22-3) visit the Miami Heat (18-6) Friday at American Airlines Arena. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET as LeBron James faces one of his former teams. We analyze the Lakers-Heat odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup.
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Lakers at Heat: Key injuries
Lakers
- SG Avery Bradley (leg) probable
- C Anthony Davis (shoulder) probable
- PF Kyle Kuzma (ankle) out
- PG Rajon Rondo (hamstring) probable
Heat
- SG Dion Waiters (suspension) out
- SG Tyler Herro (illness) questionable
- PF James Johnson (illness) questionable
- PG Justise Winslow (back) out
- PG Goran Dragic (groin) out
- C Udonis Haslem (illness) questionable
Lakers at Heat: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips
NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 12:05 p.m. ET.
Prediction
Lakers 118, Heats 106
Moneyline (ML)
The LAKERS (-239) are riding a five-game win streak as they play their second of five on the road. They hold top spot in the Western Conference and are 12-1 as visitors this season, while outscoring all opponents by an average of 9.9 points per game.
The Heat (+190), second in the East, have won three straight, but each of the last two games went to overtime against the grossly inferior Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks. They’re perfect at home (11-0), but will suffer their first home loss of the season.
New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Lakers to win outright returns a profit of $4.18.
Against the Spread (ATS)
The LAKERS (-4.5, -129) are a much more valuable play when laying the points. They’ll need to win by at least 5, as they have in each of their last six victories. LA is 16-9 against the spread overall and 8-5 on the road while Miami is 15-8 ATS overall and 9-2 at home. Each of the Heat’s six losses on the year was decided by a margin of at least 7 points.
Miami’s injury/health concerns, particularly to Herro, Winslow and Dragic, will be too much to overcome against LeBron, Davis and the Lakers.
Over/Under (O/U)
Take the OVER 212.5 (-106). The Lakers will be able to fill up the stat sheet against the undermanned Heat. Miami will have plenty of garbage-time run in the fourth quarter to send this one Over the number.
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Esten’s NBA betting record: 82-64
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