Anthony Davis will be out for a while | Heat vs Lakers | OSB
Lakers vs. Heat
odds, prediction, and betting tips for NBA
The Los Angeles Lakers will travel to FTX Arena on Wednesday, Dec. 28 to take on the Miami Heat (7:30 p.m. ET, NBA TV). The Lakers need a win badly in this game as they are on a four-game winning streak. Losing Sunday night to the Dallas Mavericks 124-115. Meanwhile, the Heat are looking to get things together and get on a winning streak after beating the Minnesota Timberwolves Monday night 113-110.
The Lakers are struggling this season with a 13-20 record. They are currently 13th in the Western Conference. Los Angeles also received devastating news as superstar Anthony Davis will be out for a while due to a stress injury in his right foot. Rumors are that he could return in January. Davis was a huge piece for the Lakers as he was averaging 27.4 points and 12.1 rebounds a game. With Davis out LeBron James and Russell Westbrook will have to step up. In the Loss against the Mavericks James tried his best scoring 38 points in the game. Westbrook finished with 17 points. Los Angeles could just not stop the Mavericks on offense, especially Luka Doncic who finished the game with 32 points. Dallas ran away with this game in the third quarter outscoring Los Angeles 51-21. To snap this four-game losing streak the Lakers will have to focus on getting stops as they have been allowing teams to score 120 plus points in each game of their losing streak. On the season the Lakers are allowing teams to score an average of 118.0 points a game. Their offense has not been ranking seventh in the NBA in points per game averaging 115.7 points a game this season.
The Heat got a big win Monday night to get back to .500 on the season. In the win Miami got a lot of contribution on offense with five players scoring double digit points. Max Strus led in scoring for the Heat with 19 points. He got it done from the three-point line shooting 5-10 from deep. This was a huge win for the Heat as they were without their two-star players in Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo. Butler did not play after spraining his ankle in Friday’s loss to the Pacers. Adebayo woke up sick on Monday before the game. Butler leads the team in points averaging 21.8 points a game. Following him, is last years sixth man of the year Tyler Herro, who is averaging 21.1 points a game this season. Miami has struggled offensively ranking dead last in the NBA in points per game only averaging 108.1 points a game this season. It has mostly come from their struggles of making their shots, shooting 45.2 percent from the field this year. Another struggle has been on the boards and glass. They are only averaging 48.8 total rebounds a game this year. What has saved Miami is their defense as they rank fourth in the NBA in opponent points per game only allowing teams to score an average of 109.2 points a game this season.
Lakers vs. Heat odds
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Lakers vs. Heat all-time series
The Lakers and Heat have played each other 68 times in the regular season since both franchises have begun. Los Angeles has the advantage with a 38-30 record against Miami. The Heat though have won three of the last four times these teams have played each other. Last time these teams played the Heat won in a 113-107 game, where Jimmy Butler dropped a triple-double with 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists.
Trends to know
– Los Angeles is 6-13 ATS after a loss this year.
– Miami is 3-11-2 ATS after a win this year.
– The Lakers are 5-12 ATS on the road this year.
– The Heat are 4-13-1 ATS at home this year.
– The Lakers are 5-8 ATS against Eastern Conference teams this year.
– The Heat are 5-9-1 ATS against Western Conference teams this year.
Things to look for
Can Miami’s offense find their rhythm against a struggling Lakers defense?
Look for this matchup in this game to see if Miami’s offense can find their rhythm and erase their previous struggles against a bad Lakers defense. Los Angeles’s defense has especially struggled during their four-game losing streak. With Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo both listed as day to day will they be without their stars again. In this case look for Tyler Herro to lead the offense.
Can Lebron James keep up his dominant play against a good Miami defense?
With the absence of Anthony Davis Lebron James has stepped up offensively with his play. James has scored 30 plus points in the last seven games he has played. On the season he is averaging 27.8 points a game this season, which ranks ninth in the NBA. Look to see how Miami plans on guarding him and who they choose to guard him.
Prediction
The Heat get the win in this one as the Lakers defense continues to struggle. Miami’s defense causes enough stops to keep Lebron James and company from winning the game. This game is low scoring where points are hard to come by. Especially, if Miami gets Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo back, they will figure out their offensive struggles against the Lakers and improve on defense with them.
Prediction: Miami Heat moneyline and the under.
