The Lakers closed out a five-game road trip with Monday’s 121-115 win in Charlotte, and have now claimed straight up wins in three of their past four contests. The Heat are coming off a 110-100 victory over the LA Clippers on Monday, and have now earned the win in six of their past seven road contests.

The Heat have surged to 5.5-point favourites on the NBA odds since opening at -4, buoyed by the support of 55 per cent of sports bettors. The total remains unchanged since opening at 229.5. However, the OVER has attracted a large 88 per cent majority of the betting action.

Heat vs. Lakers NBA Betting Odds

Wednesday night’s matchup at Crypto.com Arena marks the second and final meeting of the season between these teams. The Heat rolled to a decisive 112-98 win when the Lakers visited Miami last Wednesday, and have now claimed victory in six of nine head-to-head clashes including wins in two three road dates with Los Angeles.

Apart from last week’s matchup, recent dates between these teams have been hard fought, with winning teams claiming victory by an average margin of 4.3 points over their four previous clashes. In addition to generating mixed results at the sportsbook, where the Heat have covered in just three of six dates with the Lakers. However, the OVER has gone 3-1 over their past four meetings, and 3-1 in their past four in Los Angeles.

Miami Heat

For the second time in as many outings, the Heat needed a fourth-quarter rally to eke out the win in Monday’s 110-100 win over the Clippers. Leading by as many as 21 points in the third quarter, the club trailed by two entering the final frame but rebounded with an 8-0 run to take the lead for good. For the second time in as many outings, big man Bam Adebayo led the charge, draining a game-high 31 points and adding 13 rebounds to record his eighth double-double in 12 games. Adebayo also led the way with 32 points and eight boards two nights earlier in Utah, where the Heat blew an eight-point lead in the third quarter before bouncing back to eke out a 126-123 win.

While the Heat have needed late-game heroics in their past two outings, they have shown dramatic improvement on the road since opening the season on a worrisome 3-9 straight up run. However, they have seen three of their past five road wins come by a margin of just three points, and have allowed an inflated 115.7 points per game over their past three away dates.

Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers were forced to fend off a furious fourth-quarter rally by the Hornets to escape with a 121-115 win in Charlotte on Monday night. Los Angeles led by as many as 24 points in the third quarter, but allowed the Hornets to make things close with 39 points in the final frame. Once again, it was LeBron James who proved to be the difference maker. King James followed up on his 47-point, 10-rebound performance in a 130-121 win in Atlanta on New Year’s Eve with a 43-point, 11-board outburst in Charlotte, and has now averaged an impressive 34.4 points per game over his past 11 outings. However, with James listed as questionable for Wednesday night’s game due to a lingering ankle injury that he has now been nursing for weeks. If James is limited or sidelined, the Lakers face a huge challenge to find a source of scoring to fill the void.

While Los Angeles has racked up 119.5 points per game during its 3-1 run, big man Thomas Bryant is the only other Laker shooter to reach the 20-point mark over that stretch with his 21-point performance in last week’s 129-110 win in Orlando. And those concerns are further deepened by the uncertain status of both Russell Westbrook and Lonnie Walker IV. Westbrook was limited to just 11 minutes of action against Charlotte due to a foot injury, and Walker has been sidelined since last week’s loss in Miami by a lower body injury.

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Heat vs. Lakers?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Heat Team Leaders

MIA

Points	Jimmy Butler 22.91
Assists	Jimmy Butler 5.31
Rebounds	Bam Adebayo 9.17
FG%	Cody Zeller 62.7
Steals	Jimmy Butler 1.83
Blocks	Bam Adebayo 0.81

LAL

Points	LeBron James 28.91
Assists	LeBron James 6.82
Rebounds	Anthony Davis 12.54
FG%	Davon Reed 75
Steals	Jarred Vanderbilt 1.15
Blocks	Anthony Davis 2.04

MIA

Points	Jimmy Butler 26.91
Assists	Jimmy Butler 5.86
Rebounds	Bam Adebayo 9.87
FG%	Haywood Highsmith 61.5
Steals	Jimmy Butler 1.82
Blocks	Tyler Herro 1

LAL

Points	LeBron James 24.5
Assists	LeBron James 6.5
Rebounds	Anthony Davis 14.06
FG%	Rui Hachimura 55.7
Steals	Anthony Davis 1.38
Blocks	Anthony Davis 3.13

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Lakers Team Leaders

MIA

Points	Jimmy Butler 22.91
Assists	Jimmy Butler 5.31
Rebounds	Bam Adebayo 9.17
FG%	Cody Zeller 62.7
Steals	Jimmy Butler 1.83
Blocks	Bam Adebayo 0.81

LAL

Points	LeBron James 28.91
Assists	LeBron James 6.82
Rebounds	Anthony Davis 12.54
FG%	Davon Reed 75
Steals	Jarred Vanderbilt 1.15
Blocks	Anthony Davis 2.04

MIA

Points	Jimmy Butler 26.91
Assists	Jimmy Butler 5.86
Rebounds	Bam Adebayo 9.87
FG%	Haywood Highsmith 61.5
Steals	Jimmy Butler 1.82
Blocks	Tyler Herro 1

LAL

Points	LeBron James 24.5
Assists	LeBron James 6.5
Rebounds	Anthony Davis 14.06
FG%	Rui Hachimura 55.7
Steals	Anthony Davis 1.38
Blocks	Anthony Davis 3.13

Injuries

Miami

Cody Zeller (PF)

Prob Wed Foot - 06 / 06 / 23

Caleb Martin (SF)

Prob Sun Illness - 03 / 06 / 23

Cody Zeller (PF)

Prob Sun Foot - 03 / 06 / 23

Gabe Vincent (SG)

Ques Mon Ankle - 28 / 05 / 23

Gabe Vincent (SG)

Ques Sat Ankle - 24 / 05 / 23

Kevin Love (PF)

Prob Tues Ankle - 21 / 05 / 23

Omer Yurtseven (C)

Ques Fri Nose - 18 / 05 / 23

Cody Zeller (PF)

Prob Wed Illness - 15 / 05 / 23

Jimmy Butler (PF)

Prob Fri Ankle - 11 / 05 / 23

Haywood Highsmith (SF)

Prob Fri Knee - 11 / 05 / 23

L.A. Lakers

Anthony Davis (PF)

Prob Mon Foot - 21 / 05 / 23

Anthony Davis (PF)

Prob Sat Foot - 19 / 05 / 23

Anthony Davis (PF)

Prob Thurs Foot - 17 / 05 / 23

Anthony Davis (PF)

Prob Tues Foot - 15 / 05 / 23

Anthony Davis (PF)

Prob Fri Foot - 11 / 05 / 23

Anthony Davis (PF)

Prob Wed Foot - 09 / 05 / 23

Anthony Davis (PF)

Prob Mon Foot - 07 / 05 / 23

Anthony Davis (PF)

Prob Sat Foot - 05 / 05 / 23

Anthony Davis (PF)

Prob Thurs Foot - 03 / 05 / 23

Anthony Davis (PF)

Prob Tues Foot - 01 / 05 / 23

Injuries

Miami

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Cody Zeller (PF)	Prob Wed	Foot - 06 / 06 / 23	1-2	1-2	+ -
Zeller is tending to a right foot sprain, but it is not expected to impact his status for Game 3 of the NBA Finals against the Nuggets.
Caleb Martin (SF)	Prob Sun	Illness - 03 / 06 / 23	1-3	1-3	+ -
Martin is nursing an illness, but it is not expected to affect his status for Game 2 for the NBA Finals against the Nuggets.
Cody Zeller (PF)	Prob Sun	Foot - 03 / 06 / 23	1-3	1-3	+ -
Zeller is tending to a right foot sprain, but it is projected that he will face the Nuggets in Game 2 of the NBA finals.
Gabe Vincent (SG)	Ques Mon	Ankle - 28 / 05 / 23	3-4	1-6	+ -
Vincent is nursing a left ankle sprain, and it remains to be seen if he will dress for Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Celtics.
Gabe Vincent (SG)	Ques Sat	Ankle - 24 / 05 / 23	4-5	2-7	+ -
Vincent is hobbled by a left ankle sprain, and it is undetermined if he will suit up against the Celtics in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals.
Kevin Love (PF)	Prob Tues	Ankle - 21 / 05 / 23	5-5	3-7	+ -
Love is nursing an ankle injury, but it is expected that he will partake in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Celtics.
Omer Yurtseven (C)	Ques Fri	Nose - 18 / 05 / 23	6-6	4-8	+ -
Yurtseven is tending to a nasal contusion, and it is uncertain if he will be active for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals versus the Celtics.
Cody Zeller (PF)	Prob Wed	Illness - 15 / 05 / 23	6-6	4-8	+ -
Zeller is ailing from an illness, but it is projected that he will be available for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals versus the Celtics.
Jimmy Butler (PF)	Prob Fri	Ankle - 11 / 05 / 23	6-7	5-8	+ -
Butler is dealing with a right ankle sprain, but he is still expected to be in the lineup for Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals versus the Knicks.
Haywood Highsmith (SF)	Prob Fri	Knee - 11 / 05 / 23	6-7	5-8	+ -
Highsmith has tendinitis in his left knee, but it is not projected to affect his status ahead of the matchup against the Knicks in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

L.A. Lakers

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Anthony Davis (PF)	Prob Mon	Foot - 21 / 05 / 23	1-1	1-1	+ -
Davis is nursing a right foot stress injury, but it is not expected to impact his status versus the Nuggets in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals.
Anthony Davis (PF)	Prob Sat	Foot - 19 / 05 / 23	2-1	2-1	+ -
Davis is tending to a right foot stress injury, but he is predicted to be available for Game 3 of the Western Conference finals versus the Nuggets.
Anthony Davis (PF)	Prob Thurs	Foot - 17 / 05 / 23	3-1	3-1	+ -
Davis is managing a right foot stress injury, but he is expected to dress for Game 2 of the Western Conference finals versus the Nuggets.
Anthony Davis (PF)	Prob Tues	Foot - 15 / 05 / 23	3-1	3-1	+ -
Davis is managing a right foot stress injury, but he is expected to dress for Game 1 of the Western Conference finals versus the Nuggets.
Anthony Davis (PF)	Prob Fri	Foot - 11 / 05 / 23	4-2	4-2	+ -
Davis is tending to a right foot stress injury, but it is anticipated that he will suit up for Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Warriors.
Anthony Davis (PF)	Prob Wed	Foot - 09 / 05 / 23	5-2	4-3	+ -
Davis is dealing with a right foot stress injury, but it is projected that that he will dress for Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals versus the Warriors.
Anthony Davis (PF)	Prob Mon	Foot - 07 / 05 / 23	5-3	5-3	+ -
Davis is dealing with a right foot stress injury, but it is projected that that he will dress for Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals versus the Warriors.
Anthony Davis (PF)	Prob Sat	Foot - 05 / 05 / 23	6-3	6-3	+ -
Davis is dealing with a right foot stress injury, but he is forecasted to be available versus the Warriors in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals.
Anthony Davis (PF)	Prob Thurs	Foot - 03 / 05 / 23	7-3	6-4	+ -
Davis is dealing with a right foot stress injury, but it is anticipated that he will dress for Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals versus the Warriors.
Anthony Davis (PF)	Prob Tues	Foot - 01 / 05 / 23	7-3	6-4	+ -
Davis is nursing a right foot stress injury, but it is not expected to impact his availability for Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Warriors.