Toronto Raptors vs. Miami Heat Predictions, Picks and NBA Preview – March 23, 2017

Toronto Raptors vs. Miami Heat Preview

Where: AmericanAirlines Arena – Miami, FL

When: Thursday, March 23, 2017, 7:30 PM ET

Line: Toronto Raptors (+4) vs. Miami Heat (-4); total: 200.0 – view all NBA lines

TV Broadcast: NBATV

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Betting on the Toronto Raptors (42-29)

Point Spread: +4

The Toronto Raptors extended their winning streak to three games with a nerve-wracking 122-120 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday night. DeMar DeRozan exploded for 42 points for the Raptors who finally snapped their 11-game losing streak against the Bulls. It was Toronto’s first win against Chicago since December 31, 2013.

DeRozan set a franchise record for shot attempts in that contest with 38. You can expect DeRozan to heave that same amount of attempts against Miami tonight with big man Serge Ibaka suspended for that important clash. The Spanish international was ejected Tuesday for his role in a memorable fight with Chicago’s Robin Lopez.

If there’s one person, though, who’s capable of carrying a huge scoring burden for Toronto, it’s got to be DeRozan. With his masterpiece against the Bulls, DeRozan nab his fifth 40-plus-point game of the season. The 27-year-old also matched his career high with his 54th 20-point game, set during the 2015-16 season. DeRozan’s averaging 25.5 points and 4.0 rebounds in two meetings with the Heat this season.

The Raptors are 5-5 SU and 4-6 ATS in their last 10 road games.

Betting on the Miami Heat (35-36)

Point Spread: -4

The Miami Heat returned to winning ways Tuesday with a resounding 112-97 victory over the Phoenix Suns. Seven players scored in double-figures for the Heat who have now won three of their last four games. With that rout, Miami moved one game clear of Detroit for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

The victory came at a huge price, however, for the Heat as Hassan Whiteside departed that game with a gruesome laceration on his right hand. Whiteside, who needed 13 stitches postgame to close that cut, is probable for Miami’s crunch showdown with Toronto this evening. Head coach Erik Spoelstra will hope that Whiteside can make a quick recovery as he has been integral in the Heat’s unexpected resurgence this season. Whiteside, who now holds Miami’s single-season rebounding record, is averaging 16.8 points, 14.2 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game this campaign.

With Whiteside possibly sidelined, the onus is on Willie Reed to step up his play against the Raptors. He came off the bench and played 17 minutes on Tuesday, finishing with 12 points and seven rebounds on 4-of-5 shooting against the Suns. He had a monster game the last time Whiteside didn’t play (Chicago – January 27), scoring 20 points and grabbing five rebounds in 37-plus minutes of action.

The Heat are 8-1 SU and ATS in their last nine home games.

Writer’s Prediction

Miami (-4) edges past Toronto, 98-94.

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