It takes something special to beat the Portland Trail Blazers on their own floor. The Blazers have the second-best home record in the league, which they’ve used to stay right near the top of the Western Conference standings. But their next guests, the Miami Heat, still have two stars more than capable of producing that special game-winning performance.
Read on for our preview below to see if the Heat have what it takes to beat the Blazers in Portland. Also, click here to find out how Miami’s departed hero, LeBron James, gets on without him as the Cleveland Cavaliers take on the Houston Rockets.
[sc:NBAArticles ]Miami Heat vs. Portland Trail Blazers Betting Preview
Where: Moda Center, Portland
When: Thursday, January 8, 10:30 PM ET
Line: Miami Heat at Portland Trail Blazers – view all NBA lines
Betting on the Miami Heat
The Miami Heat finally got back to winning ways with Chris Bosh in the lineup. After losing their first three games since the return of their All-Star forward, the Heat upended the Brooklyn Nets, 88-84, on Sunday. Bosh starred with 26 points on 10-for-16 shooting, while Dwyane Wade had an all-around effort of 25 points, six rebounds and seven assists.
[sc:NBA240banner ]Bosh is averaging 20 points per game in his last four games, showing no ill-effects from the calf injury which sidelined him for eight games. Wade has also been a very consistent performer, having averaged close to 25 points during the month of December.
However, finding points from beyond those two All-Stars has been very hard to come by. Danny Granger has scored just eight points in the first two games of 2015 after averaging 17.7 points and shooting almost 70 percent in the last three games of 2014. Meanwhile, Mario Chalmers has been in a prolonged slump, averaging just four points per game in his last six.
The Heat have a better record on the road (8-8) than at home (7-12) thus far this season, but just two of those eight wins have been teams that currently have a winning record. They are also 8-8 against the spread on the road.
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Betting on the Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers bounced back from a rare home loss dealt by the streaking Atlanta Hawks to squeak by the Los Angeles Lakers, 98-94, on Monday. Damian Lillard once again came to the Blazers’ rescue with 39 points, including a clutch bucket to seal the game. Lillard has topped 26 or more points four times in the last six games.
Lillard’s heroics made up for the lack of production from Wesley Matthews, who had a season-low five points on just 1-for-9 shooting. It was revealed postgame that Matthews had hyperextended his knee during the game, which was the reason for his uncharacteristic off-night.
Whether the injury continues to affect him against the Heat could be a significant issue for the banged up Blazers, who are already without starting centers Robin Lopez (broken hand) and Joel Freeland (shoulder).
The Blazers received some unexpected production from second-year center Meyers Leonard, who profited from the playing time freed up with Freeland’s injury. Leonard had 12 points and 12 rebounds in just 19 minutes off the bench against the Lakers, while Chris Kaman had eight points and 11 rebounds in his first start of the season.
Freeland will still be out of action against the Heat, but another double-double effort from Leonard, whose career averages are four points and three rebounds, seems unlikely.
The Blazers are 16-3 (11-7-1 against the spread) at home this season, a mark bettered only by the Golden State Warriors (14-1).
Writer’s Prediction
The Blazers beat the Heat for another home win, but Miami makes a game out of it, enough to cover.
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