The Los Angeles Lakers pay the Miami Heat a visit down in South Beach this Thursday for a rematch of last season’s NBA finalists. Will the Lakers avenge their loss to Miami earlier this season? Or will the Heat take down Los Angeles again? Check out our preview of this game below.
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Betting Preview for the Los Angeles Lakers vs Miami Heat NBA Regular Season Game on April 8, 2021
Where: AmericanAirlines Arena, Miami, FL
When: Thursday, April 8, 2021, 7:30 PM ET
Line: Los Angeles Lakers (Odds) vs. Miami Heat (Odds) – view all 2020-21 NBA lines
TV Broadcast: TNT
Betting on the Los Angeles Lakers (odds)
Regular Season Record: 32-19
The Lakers got balanced offensive contributions from their starters and bench guys and defeated the Toronto Raptors on the road last Tuesday, 110-101. That was a nice rebound for the Lakers, who lost to the LA Clippers on Sunday, 104-86. Marc Gasol showed there’s gas still left in his tank, as he stepped up after Montrezl Harrell got ejected and scored 13 points to go with 9 rebounds and 5 assists. Talen Horton-Tucker tickled Lakers fans with his 17-point performance off the bench. If the Lakers are going to survive while LeBron James and Anthony Davis are out, they are going to need all hands on deck every game. That being said, Kyle Kuzma can be the guy to lead them to a win over the Heat this Thursday. He had 23 points on 8-21 shooting, albeit in a close 96-94 home loss to Miami back in February. The Lakers’ defense continues to impress despite the absences of their superstars. The Lakers have allowed just 99.7 points in their last three games — the fifth-best in the NBA over that same span.
The under is 5-4-1 in the Lakers’ last 10 road games.
Betting on the Miami Heat (odds)
Regular Season Record: 26-25
The Heat got cooled off by the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday. After stitching together four wins in a row, Miami suffered a 124-112 home loss to the Grizzlies. The Heat still shot 53.7 percent from the field and hit 13 of 33 shots from deep against Memphis. They simply lost to a better offense that night. The Lakers project to be an easier team to handle for Miami’s defense, with Los Angeles missing its best players. Even Andre Drummond is questionable to play. The new trio of Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, and Victor Oladipo will be a huge threat for the Lakers. Oladipo’s arrival in South Beach gives the Heat another talented scoring option who can break down defenses on his own. In the first meeting with the Lakers, Butler had 24 points, while Bam Adebayo double-doubled with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Kendrick Nunn had 27 points in that game, but he’s unlikely to get major minutes this Thursday with Oladipo eating up minutes.
The Heat are 2-1 against the spread in their last three home games.
Writer’s Prediction
The Heat wins, 116-110.
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