The Miami Heat (13-9) travel to Gainbridge Fieldhouse Friday to take on the Indiana Pacers (9-15). Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Heat vs. Pacers odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions and bets.
The Heat will look to get back to their winning ways after dropping two consecutive games, but they’ll have to do so without star C Bam Adebayo for the foreseeable future. Their starting center is set to undergo surgery on a torn UCL ligament in his right thumb.
F Jimmy Butler has also recently missed games as had G Tyler Herro. The Heat are one of the best teams in the East when they’re at full strength, butt hey aren’t currently there. Miami is 13-9 against the spread (ATS).
The Pacers are 12-12 ATS and failed to cover as 2.5-point home favorites against the Atlanta Hawks Wednesday. The Pacers are led by F Domantas Sabonis and have performed far better as home (6-5) than on the road (3-10).
Heat at Pacers odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:14 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Heat +190 (bet $100 to win $190) | Pacers -240 (bet $240 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Heat +5.5 (-107) | Pacers -5.5 (-115)
- Over/Under (O/U): 206.5 (O: -115 | U: -107)
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Heat at Pacers key injuries
Heat
- F Jimmy Butler (tail bone) out
- C Bam Adebayo (thumb) out
Pacers
- G T.J. McConnell (wrist) out
Heat at Pacers odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Pacers 108, Heat 99
Money line
PASS on the money line. While I like Indiana here, I would’ve bet them at -240 as they’ve been far too sporadic — even at home — to back at that value.
Against the spread
BET on the PACERS -5.5 (-115) as the Heat just aren’t the same team without Butler or Adebayo.
Those two are legitimate All-Defensive players. Missing them will make life much harder on both ends of the court, as we saw against the Cavaliers.
Also making life more miserable is that Sabonis is a big man that operates in the low post primarily, an area typically owned by Adebayo. The Pacers are a top-ten offensive rebounding team and the Heat are down their primary big man so Indiana is the only way to play the spread given its health and enhanced home play.
Over/Under
BET on the OVER 206.5 (-115) as both teams are averaging over 107 points per game and there should be plenty of opportunities for Indiana to feast in the paint.
The Heat will have the electric Herro back in action, and he should give them a big boost offensively, while Pacers should have their way with Maimi’s big defenders down. Indian almost has an offensive rating over 110 at home.
Considering the players missing and their impact, I’d play the Over.
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