The Houston Rockets (13-42) are on the road Friday as they visit the Miami Heat (30-25). Tip-off from Miami-Dade Arena will be at 8 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Rockets vs. Heat odds, and make our expert NBA picks and predictions.
The Rockets have lost 4 straight games and own the worst record in the NBA. Their last 2 losses came to the Sacramento Kings, although they did cover the spread as 8.5-point underdogs in Wednesday’s 130-128 loss. SG Jalen Green leads the team in scoring at 22 points per game.
The Heat snapped a 2-game losing streak on Wednesday when they beat the Indiana Pacers 116-111, but failed to cover the spread as 6.5-point favorites. SF Jimmy Butler is the leading scorer at 22 points per game, but C Bam Adebayo and PG Tyler Herro are also averaging 20-plus points per game.
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Rockets at Heat odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:56 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Rockets +500 (bet $100 to win $500) | Heat -700 (bet $700 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Rockets +11.5 (-105) | Heat -11.5 (-115)
- Over/Under (O/U): 221.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
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Rockets at Heat key injuries
Rockets
- SG Kevin Porter Jr. (foot) out
Heat
- PG Kyle Lowry (knee) out
- SG Victor Oladipo (ankle) out
- SF Duncan Robinson (finger) out
- SG Gabe Vincent (ankle) probable
- C Omer Yurtseven (ankle) out
For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.
Rockets at Heat picks and predictions
Prediction
Heat 114, Rockets 107
Moneyline
This is a lopsided contest between the worst team in the league and a contender in the East – albeit, a banged-up one. The Heat should win this game, but there’s no way I’m betting on the money line at -700. PASS.
Against the spread
The Heat are 6-4 in their last 10 games, but they’ve really struggled to cover the spread. They’re just 3-7 ATS in that span, with 6 of those losses coming as favorites. They’ve failed to cover in each of their last 3 games.
The Rockets are 5-5 ATS in their last 10 games, all as underdogs.
According to Covers, the Rockets are 5-6 ATS when underdogs of 10-12 points. The Heat have only been favored by 10-12 points once, failing to cover in that game. They’re 0-2 overall when favored by at least 10 points.
BET ROCKETS +11.5 (-105) to cover the spread on the road against a shorthanded Heat team.
Over/Under
The total has gone Over in each of the Rockets’ last 4 games, but that’s largely because of poor defense. They’ve allowed at least 130 points in their last 3 games, which includes a 153-121 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. They haven’t been good defensively, but they’re now playing a team that doesn’t play very fast in the Heat.
BET UNDER 221.5 (-105) in this one.
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