Heat vs Trail Blazers NBA Lines & Expert Prediction

Heat vs Trail Blazers NBA Lines & Expert Prediction

Written by on February 5, 2019

Damian Lillard and the streaking Portland Trail Blazers will look to tame Hassan Whiteside and the struggling Miami Heat when the two playoff hopefuls square off in an intriguing Inter-Conference clash on Tuesday night at the Moda Center in Portland. With the Blazers looking to extend their winning ways and the Heat looking to snap out of an ugly funk, let’s find out if Portland can cover the chalk as a 7-point home fave!

Heat vs Trail Blazers NBA Lines & Expert Prediction

Why Bet On Miami at +7?

Why should you consider betting on Miami in this contest? Well, there’s only two reasons. First, the Heat are completely and utterly desperate after dropping three straight and five of their last seven games overall, including their 95-88 home loss to Indiana on Sunday while failing to cover the chalk as a 2.5-point home favorite. Miami has dropped three straight at home while suffering a 16-point loss to Oklahoma City and a huge, 24-point loss to Chicago.

“I don’t have the exact answer; to lose three in a row at home is tough,” veteran guard Dwyane Wade said. “It’s a lot of things. You have got to figure it out. I told the guys in the locker room it doesn’t get any easier. This road trip is the toughest stretch of the season. We have to figure out a way to get out of frustration and play free of the mind.”

In addition to the fact that they’re desperate, Miami is also the better defensive team in this contest and one of the best defensive teams in the league in limiting the opposition to just 105.5 points per game defensively to rank third overall.

Team Statistics

Offense:
  • Average Score For: 104.94
  • Field Goals: 44.29%
  • Three Points: 35.09%
  • Free Throws: 68.91%
  • Rebounds: 46.55
Defense:
  • Average Score Against: 105.55
  • Field Goals: 44.37%
  • Three Points: 36.21%
  • Free Throws: 76.26%
  • Rebounds: 44.27

Why Bet On Portland at -7?

Will the Trail Blazers beat the Heat in the NBA odds on Tuesday night?

Why should you consider betting on Portland in this matchup? Well, there are a bunch of good reasons. First, the Blazers are the better offensive team in this one as they average 113.1 points per game (9th) to Miami’s more modest 104.9 points per game (26th). Another great reason to back Portland is the fact that they’ve gone a stellar 22-7 at home this season. Another good reasons to back Portland in this contest s the fact that the Blazers simply have more talent on their roster than Miami. Last but certainly not least, the Blazers are also playing solid basketball, having won three straight and six of seven including their emphatic 132-105 smackdown of Utah last Wednesday that saw Damian Lillard put up a game-high  36 points, eight rebounds and 11 assists while backcourt mate CJ McCollum added 30 points.

“Damian is a special player and person,” Trail Blazers president of basketball operations Neil Olshey told reporters recently after the veteran was named to his fourth all-star team. “Being recognized by the coaches who prepare to play against him validates what all of us in Portland have the privilege of experiencing every day as a leader in the locker room and on the court.”

Team Statistics

Offense:
  • Average Score For: 113.12
  • Field Goals: 46.29%
  • Three Points: 36.19%
  • Free Throws: 81.92%
  • Rebounds: 48.17
Defense:
  • Average Score Against: 110.04
  • Field Goals: 45.53%
  • Three Points: 36.49%
  • Free Throws: 75.65%
  • Rebounds: 43.38

Heat vs Trail Blazers NBA Betting Trends

  • Miami is 1-5 ATS in the last 6 games
  • Miami is 2-5 SU in the last 7 games
  • The total went UNDER in 6 of Miami’s last 7 games
  • Portland is 6-1 ATS in the last 7 games
  • Portland is 6-1 SU in the last 7 games
  • The total went OVER in 6 of Portland’s last 7 games

Expert Analysis and Prediction for Heat vs Trail Blazers

There’s a reason why a whopping 71 percent of public bettors like Portland to win and cover the spread in this one and it’s because no one has any faith in Miami whatsoever right about now – and rightfully so. Miami has looked borderline incompetent in each of their last three games and their 24-point home loss to a mediocre Bulls team was just inexcusable.

Miami has gone 1-4 ATS in their last five games against a team with a winning record and 1-5 ATS in their last six games overall. On the flip side of the coin, Portland has gone a perfect 9-0 ATS in their last nine games playing on three or more days rest, 4-0 ATS in their last four games against a team with a losing record and 6-1 ATS in their last seven games overall. The home team in this rivalry has gone 7-2 ATS in the last nine meetings and Miami is 0-4 ATS in their last four road dates against Portland.

NBA Betting Pick: Portland 114 Miami 101