The Miami Heat (18-17) and the Denver Nuggets (22-12) meet Friday at Ball Arena in Denver. Tip-off is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET (NBATV). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Heat vs. Nuggets odds, and make our expert NBA picks and predictions.
The Heat have picked up 2 straight wins, both against Western Conference teams, including a 112-98 win on Wednesday as 8.5-point favorites against the visiting Los Angeles Lakers. In fact, Miami has won 5 in a row against the Western Conference, going 3-0-1 in the last 4 games against the West.
The Nuggets were edged 127-126 in Sacramento on Wednesday in the 2nd end of a back-to-back in California’s capital city. That loss snapped a 5-game win streak, although the Nuggets covered as 2.5-point underdogs and they’re 4-1 ATS in the last 5 games. The Under is 5-2 in the last 7 games for Denver.
Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!
Heat at Nuggets odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:08 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Heat +160 (bet $100 to win $160) | Nuggets -190 (bet $190 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Heat +4.5 (-112) | Nuggets -4.5 (-108)
- Over/Under (O/U): 223.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Heat at Nuggets key injuries
Heat
- F Jimmy Butler (ankle) probable
- C Dewayne Dedmon (foot) out
- F Udonis Haslem (Achilles) questionable
- F Nikola Jovic (back) probable
- G Kyle Lowry (personal) probable
- F Caleb Martin (ankle) questionable
- G Gabe Vincent (knee) probable
Nuggets
- G Bruce Brown (ankle) questionable
- F Aaron Gordon (shoulder) questionable
- G Jamal Murray (knee) questionable
For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.
Heat at Nuggets picks and predictions
Prediction
Nuggets 111, Heat 107
Moneyline
The Nuggets (-190) are a little on the expensive side, especially if Gordon and the Blue Arrow cannot play.
The Heat (+160) have a rather lengthy injury list, too, but if you were to roll the dice on the money line, it would be a better value.
PASS.
Against the spread
The HEAT +4.5 (-112) is the play, as long as Jimmy Buckets can suit up. All indications are that he’ll be ready, and that makes Miami the play.
The Nuggets -4.5 (-108) have managed to go 0-4 ATS in the last 4 games following a SU loss, while cashing in just 2 of the last 10 games when working on just 1 day of rest.
Over/Under
UNDER 223.5 (-110) is the lean, and it might be the best play in this game due to the lengthy injury report on both sides.
It’s all about the Under for Miami lately, going 4-1 in the last 5 games overall, while cashing in 4 of the last 5 on the road, too.
The Under is 10-4 in the last 14 games for Denver at home, while going 5-2 in the last 7 games overall.
Want action on this NBA game or any other matchups? Bet legally online with a trusted partner: Tipico Sportsbook, SportsbookWire’s official sportsbook partner in OH, CO and NJ. Bet now!
If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW, or try out our USA TODAY Parlay Calculator. Please gamble responsibly.
[mm-video type=playlist id=01fb7dafw2b08817yr player_id=01evcg1x9ny8tb834m image=]
Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
Access more NBA coverage:
HoopsHype | Bulls Wire | Celtics Wire | Nets Wire | Rockets Wire | Sixers Wire | Thunder Wire | Warriors Wire | LeBron Wire | Rookie Wire | List Wire
[lawrence-newsletter]
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1368]