Raptors vs. Heat Prediction
In tonight’s featured NBA game, the Miami Heat play host to the Toronto Raptors at 7:30PM ET. Can the Heat flame out the Raptors?
549 Toronto Raptors vs. 550 Miami Heat
Thursday, January 2, 2020
7:30PM ET – AmericanAirlines Arena
TV: NBA TV
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Public Betting Trends
According to the latest oddsmakers, the Heat are favored at home, as they are getting odds of -5.5 points against the Raptors. The over/under total for the contest is listed at 215 points. The public betting currently has 60 percent going on Toronto as the road underdog. This information is subject to change, however, so be sure to check out our NBA Public Betting Page for updated figures on the game.
Raptors playing with a short deck
Toronto has been bit pretty hard by the injury bug throughout the season, but the Raptors still find ways to win. They are coming off a 117-97 win at home over Cleveland on Tuesday. The Raptors are 23-11 on the season, 9-6 on the road, 20-14 against the spread and 17-16-1 with the under.
The Raptors are putting up 111.5 points per game on offense this season while shooting 45.2 percent from the field as a team. Defensively, Toronto is allowing just 105.9 points per game while opponents shoot only 42.2 percent against them. Toronto is currently without leading scorer Pascal Siakam, as well as Norman Powell and Marc Gasol due to injury. Kyle Lowry is the active leader right now with 20.9 points, 4.8 rebounds and 7.5 assists per game. Fred VanVleet is adding 18.0 points, 3.9 rebounds and 6.9 assists per contest.
Miami ends win streak
The Heat are coming off a 123-105 loss at Washington on Monday in a surprising upset as an 11-point favorite. That loss ended a five-game win streak for the Heat. Miami is 0-3-1 against the spread in their last four games. Miami is 24-9 on the season, 15-1 at home, 19-12-2 against the spread and 20-12-1 with the over.
The Heat are putting up 112.4 points per game on offense this season while shooting a solid 47 percent from the floor and 38.5 percent from the arc. Defensively, Miami is allowing 108.2 points per game while holding opponents to 44.5 percent shooting. Jimmy Butler is leading the team with 20.8 points, 6.6 rebounds and 6.6 assists per game. Kendrick Nunn is adding 16.0 points and 3.5 assists per game.
NBA Betting Trends
Toronto
The Raptors are 20-6 against the spread in their last 26 games playing on 1 day of rest and 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games overall.
Miami
The Heat are 8-0-1 against the spread in their last 9 Thursday games and 12-4-1 ATS in their last 17 home games.
Prediction:
Miami picked up a 121-110 OT win over Toronto in Canada back on Dec. 3 in the first meeting between these two this year. Miami definitely overlooked a short-handed Washington team on Monday and now has had a few days to chew on that loss. They will not overlook a short-handed Toronto team tonight. The Heat have been able to pick up wins over some solid teams in recent outings and they are eager to prove they are a contender this year. The Raptors have been struggling without their full compliment of talent and I think Miami’s scoring ability, especially at home, will be too great for the Raptors to have an answer for tonight.
NBA Prediction: Miami Heat -5.5