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The Miami Heat (4-6) face the Indiana Pacers (5-6) in the NBA Cup group play on Friday. Tipoff from Gainbridge Fieldhouse is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NBA odds around the Heat vs. Pacers odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: First meeting; Pacers won series 2-1 last season
Both teams are coming off close losses. The Heat are on the fifth game of a 6-game road trip and are 1-3 so far. On Tuesday they lost 123-121 to the Detroit Pistons as 1.5-point favorites. The Heat rallied from 18 points down to force overtime, but lost a chance to win when coach Erik Spoelstra called a timeout with 1.1 seconds left that he didn’t have giving Detroit a technical free throw.
The Pacers were 2.5-point road favorites against the Orlando Magic (-2.5) on Tuesday. This game was ugly as each team had 17 turnovers and neither team shot better than 40% from the field. The Magic held on to win 94-90, well below the Over/Under of 224.5. Despite shooting 3-14 from the floor, Pacers PG Tyrese Haliburton was the only Indiana starter with a positive +/- at +5.
Heat at Pacers odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of NBA odds. Lines last updated at Thursday at 11:46 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Heat +150 (bet $100 to win $150) | Pacers -185 (bet $185 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Heat +4.5 (-115) | Pacers -4.5 (-105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 226.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
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Heat at Pacers key injuries
Heat
- G Jimmy Butler (ankle) out
Pacers
- F Isaiah Jackson (achilles) out
- G Andrew Nembhard (knee) out
- F Aaron Nesmith (ankle) out
- C James Wiseman (achilles) out
For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.
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Heat at Pacers picks and predictions
Prediction
Pacers 125, Heat 109
Moneyline
PASS.
The Pacers (-185) are a better bet on the spread.
Against the spread
BET PACERS -4.5 (-105).
Miami is 1-3 on their road trip and even though they are getting an extra day of rest, Indiana’s defense is improving. They allow the 4th-fewest assists per game (23.6) and 6th-fewest fastbreak points (13.2).
The Pacers and Heat are both top teams against the spread after a loss at 4-1. But Indiana has won and covered in their last 3 home games beating the Boston Celtics, New York Knicks and Orlando Magic.
Miami’s road competition has been easier, having beaten the Minnesota Timberwolves by 1 point, Washington Wizards and Charlotte Hornets.
Over/Under
BET OVER (226.5) 115.
The Pacers are 7-4 towards the Over (63.6%) and are 5-0 after a loss. While the Heat are 5-5 O/U on the season, they are 2-1 as a road dog (66.7%).
Miami also posts the 5th highest 3-point percentage in the NBA (38.8%).
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