Heat vs. Wizards Prediction
The Heat are trying to hold onto the final playoff berth in the East but will visit a Wizards team on Saturday night that has been tough to beat at home. Will the conference foes combine for enough points in this 7:00 p.m. ET matchup to push the score over the total for bettors?
Game Snapshot
517 Miami Heat at 518 Washington Wizards
7:00 p.m. ET, Saturday, March 23, 2019
Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C.
Our NBA Live Odds page pulls spreads and totals from multiple different online sportsbooks so you can compare betting odds to ensure you’re getting the best line.
Public Betting Trends
According to oddsmakers from online sportsbook BetNow.eu, the Wizards are 1.5-point favorites to beat the Heat. The total, meanwhile, sits at 221.5 points and as of this writing, 53% of the public betting tickets wagered at online sportsbooks are on the Wizards to cover the point spread.
Miami Heat Fantasy Spin
Goran Dragic failed to score in 22 minutes on Friday, going 0-of-9 from the field with five rebounds, four assists and one steal. Dragic’s hot stretch of 19+ points in three straight games came to a screeching halt. He didn’t get to the free throw line tonight and it didn’t help that Miami ran into a Bucks team eager to recover from a loss to the Cavs. Dragic will be much better most games, of course, but this is part of the enigma of Heat players — it’s hard to guess who will get hot on a given night.
Washington Wizards Fantasy Spin
Jabari Parker made just 3-of-11 attempts for six points on Thursday against the Nuggets, adding eight rebounds, one assist and two turnovers in 22 minutes. One day after scoring a season-high 28 points, Parker came crashing back to Earth. He didn’t experience any boost with Trevor Ariza (groin) out, with coach Scott Brooks electing to start Troy Brown instead. Brooks also said post-game that he’s going to continue to start Thomas Bryant and Bobby Portis together, which could limit Parker’s minutes moving forward. Still, Parker should be owned in standard leagues due to his consistent play of late as well as the Wizards’ upcoming four-game week.
NBA Betting Trends
Miami
The Heat have covered the spread in 20 of their last 28 games on the road and nine of their last 13 games overall.
Washington
The Wizards are 6-2 against the spread in their last eight home games and are 8-3 against the number in their last 11 games overall.
Prediction
The over is a perfect 5-0 in the previous five meetings between these two teams and cashed in nine of the last 13 meetings in D.C. That said, the under has been excellent in recent Washington games, cashing in five of the Wizards’ last seven games overall and in five of their last six home games. The under is also 4-0 in the Heat’s last four conference games and is 5-2 in their last seven games after allowing 100 points or more in their previous contest.
Saturday NBA Prediction: Heat/Wizards under 221.5