NBA: Heat Look to Burn Magic in Miami

Miami can move within a game of the Celtics with a home win tonight but Dwight Howard and the Magic won’t be in the giving mood this close to the playoffs.

The road is long
Miami may be at home tonight but the next three weeks are going to feel like an epic journey for the Heat. The most gruelling part of Miami’s schedule began on Sunday with a defeat at the hands of the Knicks. Between that game and March 23, the Heat will face a string of playoff contenders in a stretch that will test the mental fortitude of Miami’s biggest stars.

Tonight they welcome an Orlando team that has won three straight. That will be followed immediately by a road game against the Spurs tomorrow, where the Heat must tackle the team with the best record in the NBA. Before this run ends the Heat will face the Spurs a second time, as well as taking on the Lakers, Bulls, Blazers, and Thunder. Even the home date with Memphis looks tough now that the Grizzlies are making a run for the post-season.

For now the Heatles can only deal with the task before them tonight. The Magic may have momentum on their side but Miami have a new addition that could prove the difference in a tight game. Mike Bibby is expected to suit up tonight[http://bleacherreport.com/articles/625489-can-you-spare-a-guard-how-vital-is-mike-bibby-to-the-miami-heats-offense] and could be Erik Spoelstra’s man on the court to keep the Heat disciplined in a tight match-up. I like Miami to take the win tonight as -5.0 favorites with Sports Interaction.

Re-tooled Nuggets could be dangerous
Car-who did you say? Denver have gone on a tear since trading Carmelo Anthony to the Knicks. While down a superstar, the Nuggets have added significant depth to their roster and provisionally hold the #5 seed in the Western Conference. Tonight they travel to Utah where the Jazz are finding it a little tougher to adjust to life without Deron Williams. Utah still look capable of making the post-season but they need to make every home game count.

While Al Jefferson has looked particularly strong for the Jazz, Utah simply lack the cohesion of the new-look Nuggets. Denver’s post-Carmelo high will probably hit a wall eventually but right now there’s no reason to doubt the Nuggets. This is a team that is playing with more confidence and discipline than when the trade circus was ongoing. I like Denver to get the job done on the road tonight. Bet on the Denver Nuggets as +3.5 favorites with Sports Interaction.