Heat vs. Cavaliers Pick
After blowing a big lead on Sunday to the Hawks, can the Cleveland Cavaliers bounce back tonight when they travel to face the Miami Heat at 7:30PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, Miami is the favorite at home, as the Heat are getting odds of -4.5 points against the Cavaliers. The over/under total for the game is listed at 210.5 points. Miami has won and covered in four of its last five against Cleveland, including two of three meetings this season.
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Cleveland seemed to have control of the East again after going on a four-game win streak, but the Cavs have lost two straight to fall to 51-29 on the season and in a tie with the Celtics with two games remaining. The Cavs are just 35-42-3 against the spread this season and just 3-6 ATS in their last 9. Cleveland is averaging 110.6 points per game on offense this season while allowing 107.1 on defense. Over their last five they are scoring 119.2 per game while giving up 112.6 on defense. LeBron James is averaging 26.4 points, 8.6 rebounds and 8.7 assists per game to lead the team while Kyrie Irving adds 25.2 points per contest.
Miami is coming off a big 106-103 win at Washington on Saturday to improve to 39-41 on the season. The Heat are tied with Chicago for the final playoff spot in the East, but losing the tiebreaker, so currently are on the outside of the playoff picture. Miami has covered in three straight to get to 48-31-1 against the spread ad well. The Heat average 102.8 points per game on offense while giving up 101.9 on defense. Over their last five they put up 103.8 on offense while giving up 102.4 on defense. Goran Dragic has been leading the team with 20.3 points and 5.8 assists per game while Hassan Whiteside adds 16.8 points and 14 rebounds per contest.
I don’t feel great about the Heat giving up this many points to Cleveland, especially when the Cavs need a win. But, Tristan Thompson remains questionable with a thumb injury and if he can’t play, Whiteside should have a big advantage inside and on the glass. The Heat need the win just as bad, if not greater, than Cleveland as well. With this game in Miami, I expect the Heat to leave it all on the floor and grab the win.
NBA DAILY PREDICTION: MIAMI HEAT -4.5