Mavericks vs. Heat Pick
Can the Miami Heat cover a slim spread when they host the struggling Dallas Mavericks tonight at 8PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, Miami is a small favorite, as the Heat are getting odds of -1.5 points against the Mavericks. The over/under total for the contest has been set at 196.5 points. Miami has won and covered in three of its last four meetings with Dallas but the two have yet to meet this season. Tonight’s game takes place from AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami, Florida.
Miami is coming off a big 90-89 win at Boston on Wednesday night for its third win in four games. The Heat are now 16-15 on the season. They have failed to cover in three of their last five games and sit at 12-17-2 against the spread this season. Miami averages 99.9 points per game on offense while allowing 101.8 per contest on defense. Goran Dragic has been leading the team with 16.6 points and 4.4 assists per game while Hassan Whiteside is adding 14.9 points and 12.7 rebounds per contest. Both are questionable to play tonight due to injuries. Dragic has missed the last two games.
Dallas snapped a three-game losing streak with a 110-93 win over Detroit on Wednesday night. The Mavericks are now 9-23 overall. They are 7-2-1 against the spread in their last 10 games to get to 15-16-1 ATS on the season. Dallas is scoring 99.7 points per game on offense while giving up 102.6 per game defensively. Harrison Barnes is putting up 18.5 points and 7.1 rebounds per game to lead Dallas while rookie Dennis Smith Jr. is adding 14.4 points and 4.1 assists per game.
While the Mavericks have been covering lately, this is a small spread for a team that is 2-12 on the road. Miami has some injuries, but I expect some of those to heal up for tonight’s game. Even if they do not, Miami has still been able to win in recent games without their big names. Miami is the better team and at home. The public betting is backing the Heat and I am going to as well.
NBA DAILY PREDICTION: MIAMI HEAT -1.5