Blazers vs. Heat NBA Prediction
The total for Thursday night’s Blazers and Heat matchup opened at 217.5 but has climbed to 219 at most sports books. Is the over the best play for this matchup?
Game Snapshot
501 Portland Trail Blazers (+4) at 502 Miami Heat (-4); o/u 219
7:30 p.m. ET, Thursday, March 25, 2021
Venue: AmericanAirlines Arena, Miami, FL
TV: TNT
Portland Trail Blazers DFS Notes
Damian Lillard hit just 5-of-17 shots, 3-of-14 3-pointers and 9-of-9 free throws for 22 points, three rebounds and nine assists in Tuesday’s 116-112 loss to the Nets. If you tuned into this one looking for a shootout between Lillard and James Harden, it didn’t happen after they combined to hit just 12-of-41 shots on the night. But they hit 20-of-22 free throws in what turned out to be a great game. After scoring at least 30 points in seven of his previous eight games, Lillard has scored 22 and 19 points in his last two, hitting just 12-of-33 shots. He’s fine and should bounce back against the Heat on Thursday as the Blazers will look to snap their two-game losing streak, while the Heat are currently on a four-game losing trek.
Miami Heat DFS Notes
Goran Dragic (back) is questionable for Thursday vs. Portland. Miami would almost certainly include Dragic’s contract in a potential deal for Kyle Lowry, so that could explain why they’ve been extra cautious with the veteran. If Dragic misses a third straight, Kendrick Nunn would again be in line for heavy minutes after scoring 25 points with five on Tuesday. Avery Bradley (calf) is listed as questionable which is nothing new.
Trail Blazers vs. Heat Game Prediction
The over has cashed in five of the last six meetings between these two teams in Miami and is 4-1 in the last five meetings overall. The over is also 10-4 in the Blazers’ last 14 games as an underdog and is 5-2 in their last seven road games versus a team with a winning home record.
NBA PREDICTION: TRAIL BLAZERS/HEAT OVER 219