The Portland Trail Blazers (18-25) and the Miami Heat (28-16) square off Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. ET for the second time in two weeks. The Blazers come in having won their last two games, while the Heat are trying to make it back-to-back victories after beating the Raptors Monday. Below, we look at the Trail Blazers vs. Heat odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions and bets.
The Blazers are finally getting healthy, welcoming back SG CJ McCollum after he missed six-plus weeks with a collapsed lung. He scored 16 points in his return Monday, leading Portland to a 98-88 win at the Magic.
It was the Blazers’ fourth win in the last five games as they try to claw their way back into the Western Conference race. PG Damian Lillard remains out after undergoing surgery on an abdominal injury recently, but SG Anfernee Simons is taking advantage of the opportunity.
The Heat are close to getting healthy, too. C Bam Adebayo returned Monday after missing more than a month with a thumb injury, scoring 14 points in a 104-99 home win over the Raptors.
But unfortunately, PG Tyler Herro landed in safety and protocols status earlier Wednesday. He had scored at least 21 points in four of his last five games, including a 33-point outburst at the Phoenix Suns Jan. 8, to help lead the Heat to four victories.
Miami has won seven of its last 10 games, going 7-3 against the spread (ATS) in that span, as well.
Trail Blazers at Heat odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 4:32 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Trail Blazers +340 (bet $100 to win $340) | Heat -475 (bet $475 to win $100)
- Against the spread: Trail Blazers +9.5 (-115) | Heat -9.5 (-107)
- Over/Under (O/U): 211.5 (O: -107 | U: -115)
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Trail Blazers at Heat key injuries
Trail Blazers
- PG Damian Lillard (abdominal) out
- PF Larry Nance Jr. (knee) out
- SF Norman Powell (personal reason) out
- PG Dennis Smith Jr. (ankle) probable
- C Cody Zeller (knee) out
Heat
- PG Tyler Herro (health and safety protocols) out
- PG Kyle Lowry (personal reasons) out
- PF Markieff Morris (return to competition reconditioning) out
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Trail Blazers at Heat odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Heat 106, Trail Blazers 101
Money line
As likely as the Heat are to win this game at home with the Blazers coming across the country, I would PASS.
Without Lowry and Herro, and with McCollum back for Portland, it’s tough to get behind the Heat with the line sitting at -475. There’s much more value to be had with the spread below.
Against the spread
BET TRAIL BLAZERS +9.5 (-115).
They are just 5-5 ATS in their last 10 games, but that includes a 4-1 ATS stretch in their last five games, covering against the Magic, Wizards, Nets and Kings.
The Blazers are heating up – no pun intended – at the right time. While beating the Heat on the road will be a tall task without Lillard, Portland is playing some good basketball.
Simons has stepped up and McCollum should continue to get more comfortable as he returns from a scary lung injury.
Backing the BLAZERS +9.5 (-115), getting the points against a Heat team that will be without two of its top players, is the way to go.
Over/Under
BET UNDER 211.5 (-115).
In the Heat’s last 10 games, the total has gone Over seven times – and five times in the Blazers’ last 10. Matchups between these two teams have been relatively high scoring in recent years, with a 7-3 O/U record in their last 10 meetings.
Both teams rank in the middle of the pack in scoring, each averaging 109 points per game this season. That could keep this a relatively close game with each side pulling its weight on the scoreboard, but without Herro, Lowry and Lillard on the floor, I like UNDER 211.5 (-115).
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