Los Angeles Lakers vs. Miami Heat Betting Preview
Where: American Airlines Arena — Miami, FL
When: Thursday, December 22, 2016, 8:00 PM ET
Line: Los Angeles Lakers (+4.5) at Miami Heat (-4.5); total: 208.0 – view all NBA lines
TV Broadcast: TNT
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Betting on the Los Angeles Lakers (+4.5)
LA lost its second game in a row on Tuesday night, falling to the Hornets, 117-113, in a game where the purple and gold let go of a 19-point lead and finished with a season-high 73 first-half points and 16 threes.
Guards Nick Young and Jordan Clarkson combined for 12 of those three-pointers, and racked up 25 and 24 points, respectively. Meanwhile, four other Lakers also scored in double figures: D’Angelo Russell (15), Lou Williams (16), Luol Deng (11) and Larry Nance Jr. (10).
Speaking of Nance, he limped off the court after injuring his left knee in the third period and did not return. The team has ruled him out indefinitely with a bone bruise.
Nance’s energy, hustle and athleticism will definitely be missed by the Lakers, who’ve lost 10 of their last 11 games but are 3-0 ATS in their previous three. This also means more pressure for Julius Randle (12.8 PPG, 8.6 RPG) to assert himself, especially at the defensive end where Los Angeles ranks 29th overall.
The Kentucky product was held to eight points versus Charlotte, but compensated for it with six boards, four assists and a career-high five blocks.
Betting on the Miami Heat (-4.5)
Miami collapsed twice in a double-overtime loss to Orlando on Tuesday night, squandering a five-point lead in the fourth quarter and a four-point lead in the first extra session.
Backup point guard Tyler Johnson delivered a career-high of 32 points off the bench, while Hassan Whiteside tied a career-best 32 points along with 15 rebounds to give him his 22nd double-double of the season. Those efforts were wasted, unfortunately.
Goran Dragic also pitched in 19 points of his own for the Heat, who are now losers of their last three contests and eight of their previous 11. But they should be in position for a victory later tonight versus an also-struggling Lakers squad that’s just 5-13 straight up (9-9 ATS) on the road this season.
Dragic (19.1 PPG) and Whiteside (18.1 PPG) has led Miami this season with nearly 20 points per game. The team’s defense, which ranks 12th in the league in efficiency and ninth in points given up, has been there to keep them competitive, despite winning just a total of nine games thus far.
The Heat, however, have allowed their last three opponents to score above 100 points—all of which resulted into setbacks. They’ve got to limit the Lakers below that mark, or else it could be another tough loss for Miami.
Writer’s Prediction
Miami (-4.5) wins it, 109-102.
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