The Miami Heat (6-8) visit the Brooklyn Nets (9-8) at the Barclays Center Saturday for an 8 p.m. ET tip-off. Below, we analyze the Heat-Nets NBA odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
This will be the fourth straight two-game set against the same team for Miami, who will also play Brooklyn Jan. 25. The Heat lost both meetings vs. the Philadelphia 76ers (1-1 against the spread), next they split two games with the Detroit Pistons (0-1-1 ATS) and won the first of a two-game miniseries with the Toronto Raptors (1-1 ATS) coming into Saturday.
Brooklyn has lost back-to-back games at the Cleveland Cavaliers as heavy favorites to snap a four-game win streak entering Saturday. The 147-135 double-overtime loss to the Cavs on Jan. 20 was the Nets’ first game with Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant and James Harden all active. KD did not play to manage his surgically repaired Achilles’ in Brooklyn’s 125-113 loss to Cleveland last night.
Heat at Nets: Odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 2:10 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Heat +260 (bet $100 to win $260) | Nets -350 (bet $350 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Heat +7.5 (-110) | Nets -7.5 (-110)
- Over/Under: 232.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Heat at Nets: Key Injuries
Heat
- SF Jimmy Butler (COVID-19) out
- PG Tyler Herro (neck) out
- SG Avery Bradley (COVID-19)
- C Meyers Leonard (shoulder) probable
Nets
- SG Spencer Dinwiddie (knee) out
Special NBA Betting Promotion!
Place a $1 bet on either team’s money line, WIN an additional $100 (in free bets) if either team hits a 3-pointer during the game today. Promotion available in CO, IN, MI, NJ, TN and WV. IA and PA residents, don’t miss BetMGM‘s risk-free, first-bet offer!
Place your legal, online sports bets at BetMGM! Terms and conditions apply. Bet now!
Heat at Nets: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Nets 123, Heat 109
Money line (ML)
PASS ON THE MONEY LINE. All of the big 3 are playing for the Nets (-350) Saturday, but I have too much respect for Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra to pay such a steep price for a straight-up Brooklyn win.
Miami’s run to the NBA Finals last season in the Orlando bubble was powered by the best teamwork, continuity and togetherness in the Eastern Conference. The Heat were slow to recapture that form early this season and have recently suffered setbacks due to injury and COVID-19. Miami will still be without Jimmy Butler, and Tyler Herro is now out with injury.
Against the spread (ATS)
Continuity is for sure a question mark with Brooklyn, but KD is the best player in the world, and I think he’ll want to make a statement versus the defending Eastern Conference champs. KD is the second-leading scorer in the NBA (31.3 points per game) on an efficient 60.7% effective field-goal shooting.
Kyrie Irving scored a season-high 38 points in Brooklyn’s loss Friday to the Cavs, and Harden is averaging 26.5 points, 8.3 and 12.5 assists per game in his four games with the Nets. Also, Kyrie was chirping this morning on Instagram with “We will be on that stage … The main stage” and KD responded with “Speak on it King!!” so I’m expecting Brooklyn’s big 3 to back up the talk tonight.
BET NETS -7.5 (-110) for 1 unit.
Over/Under (O/U)
PASS ON THE TOTAL with a lean on Over 232.5 (-110). The total aligns with my prediction, but I could see Miami getting hot from three and/or Brooklyn putting up 130-plus points. However, the Heat are banged up and 27th in points per game over their past five.
Want some action on this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.
Follow Geoff Clark on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
Also see:
- Kevin Durant on Charles Barkley: ‘I don’t know why they still ask for this idiot’s opinion’ (Nets Wire)
- Hoops Hype Rumors: Heat | Nets
Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.
[lawrence-newsletter]
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1368]