The Brooklyn Nets and Miami Heat are back at it after the two teams squared off on Friday night. The Nets were able to defeat the Heat but it was much tighter than expected. Brooklyn’s Big Three led the way, but the Heat got a 41-point outburst from Bam Adebayo and closed the lead to within three points in the dying seconds. The Heat are likely to be shorthanded again, but can they still make a game of this? Let’s take a closer look.

NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis

The Heat are 12-4 against the spread (ATS) in their past 16 road games against teams with a winning record and they hope to extend that to 13-4 after this matchup. The Heat narrowly lost their last game while missing two of their best players and could catch a tough Nets team off guard with another fantastic performance.

Meanwhile, the Over is 7-0 in the Nets last seven games when coming off an ATS loss in the game prior. Given how bad the Nets have been on the defensive end of the court, this number may easily go to 8-0 in this game. Brooklyn has made no adjustments at all to their defence and their lack of bench depth has hurt them even more there.

Miami Heat

The Heat have been struggling, so far this season, but a lot of that has to do with their star players missing valuable time. Jimmy Butler has only played six out of their first 14 games this season while Tyler Herro has missed five straight games. Butler and Herro have already been ruled out for this upcoming game as well. However, Miami does still have Adebayo among other very talented role players. Second-year sharpshooter Duncan Robinson is averaging 16.6 points per game over his last 10, while Kendrick Nunn is at 16.8 in that same span.

Adebayo proved last game, that he could score on high efficiency, while leading the charge offensively, as the offence worked through him. The key will be for the role players to continue to offer support. The Nets defence and depth is horrendous right now, so the Heat will have a shot here.

Brooklyn Nets

The Nets haven’t gotten any better on the defensive end, as they allowed 124 points to a Heat team that was without Butler and Herro. And that  game comes after a pair of losses to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Outscoring opponents might work in the regular season, but it’s not going to work in the playoffs. They need to figure out how to function as a cohesive unit.

It also doesn’t help that Brooklyn hasn’t gotten tremendous offensive production from James Harden, just yet. Since being traded to the Nets, Harden only attempts around 14 shots per game compared to Irving’s 25 per game. With the Nets struggling so badly on defence and rotations due to their lack of depth, Harden should be putting up a lot more shots in this offence, to try and get himself going early on. Harden needs to be more involved in Brooklyn’s offence if they want to improve.

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Heat vs. Nets?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Heat Team Leaders

MIA

Points	Jimmy Butler 21.46
Assists	Jimmy Butler 7.1
Rebounds	Bam Adebayo 8.95
FG%	Udonis Haslem 100
Steals	Jimmy Butler 2.08
Blocks	Bam Adebayo 1.03

BK

Points	Kevin Durant 26.94
Assists	James Harden 10.89
Rebounds	James Harden 8.53
FG%	DeAndre Jordan 76.3
Steals	Kyrie Irving 1.41
Blocks	LaMarcus Aldridge 2.2

MIA

Points	Goran Dragic 16
Assists	Jimmy Butler 7
Rebounds	Bam Adebayo 9.25
FG%	Precious Achiuwa 75
Steals	Bam Adebayo 1.25
Blocks	Precious Achiuwa 0.67

BK

Points	Kevin Durant 34.25
Assists	James Harden 8.56
Rebounds	Kevin Durant 9.25
FG%	Alize Johnson 57.1
Steals	James Harden 1.67
Blocks	Kevin Durant 1.58

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Nets Team Leaders

MIA

Points	Jimmy Butler 21.46
Assists	Jimmy Butler 7.1
Rebounds	Bam Adebayo 8.95
FG%	Udonis Haslem 100
Steals	Jimmy Butler 2.08
Blocks	Bam Adebayo 1.03

BK

Points	Kevin Durant 26.94
Assists	James Harden 10.89
Rebounds	James Harden 8.53
FG%	DeAndre Jordan 76.3
Steals	Kyrie Irving 1.41
Blocks	LaMarcus Aldridge 2.2

MIA

Points	Goran Dragic 16
Assists	Jimmy Butler 7
Rebounds	Bam Adebayo 9.25
FG%	Precious Achiuwa 75
Steals	Bam Adebayo 1.25
Blocks	Precious Achiuwa 0.67

BK

Points	Kevin Durant 34.25
Assists	James Harden 8.56
Rebounds	Kevin Durant 9.25
FG%	Alize Johnson 57.1
Steals	James Harden 1.67
Blocks	Kevin Durant 1.58

Injuries

Miami

Goran Dragic (PG)

Ques Sun Rest - 16 / 05 / 21

Jimmy Butler (PF)

Ques Sat Back - 15 / 05 / 21

Kendrick Nunn (PG)

Ques Sat Calf - 13 / 05 / 21

Jimmy Butler (PF)

Ques Thurs Eye - 12 / 05 / 21

Andre Iguodala (SG)

Ques Sun Quadricep - 08 / 05 / 21

Jimmy Butler (PF)

Prob Fri Flu - 04 / 05 / 21

Andre Iguodala (SG)

Prob Tues Hip - 03 / 05 / 21

Goran Dragic (PG)

Prob Sun Back - 02 / 05 / 21

Nemanja Bjelica (PF)

Out indefinitely Illness - 01 / 05 / 21

Gabe Vincent (SG)

Ques Sun Knee - 30 / 04 / 21

Brooklyn

Alize Johnson (SF)

Ques Sat Ankle - 30 / 05 / 21

Jeff Green (SF)

Prob Sun Foot - 25 / 05 / 21

Landry Shamet (PG)

Prob Sat Ankle - 21 / 05 / 21

Joe Harris (SG)

Prob Sat Hip - 12 / 05 / 21

Bruce Brown (PG)

Ques Tues Face - 11 / 05 / 21

Bruce Brown (PG)

Ques Sun Knee - 26 / 04 / 21

Alize Johnson (SF)

Out indefinitely Illness - 23 / 04 / 21

Nicolas Claxton (PF)

Out indefinitely Illness - 19 / 04 / 21

Reggie Perry (PF)

Out indefinitely Illness - 19 / 04 / 21

Blake Griffin (PF)

Out Fri Rest - 16 / 04 / 21

Injuries

Miami

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Goran Dragic (PG)	Ques Sun	Rest - 16 / 05 / 21	2-3	2-3	+ -
Dragic is projected to receive a day of rest on Sunday versus the Pistons.
Jimmy Butler (PF)	Ques Sat	Back - 15 / 05 / 21	3-3	2-4	+ -
Butler is nursing a lower-back injury, and it is unclear if he will be available for the Eastern Conference first round versus the Bucks.
Kendrick Nunn (PG)	Ques Sat	Calf - 13 / 05 / 21	4-3	3-4	+ -
Nunn exited the last game with left calf soreness, and it remains to be seen if he will dress for Saturday's battle with the Bucks.
Jimmy Butler (PF)	Ques Thurs	Eye - 12 / 05 / 21	4-3	3-4	+ -
Butler sustained an eye injury in the previous game, and it is unknown if he will take on the 76ers on Thursday.
Andre Iguodala (SG)	Ques Sun	Quadricep - 08 / 05 / 21	6-3	5-4	+ -
Iguodala is tending to a quadricep injury, and it is unknown if he will be in the lineup for Sunday's game against he Celtics.
Jimmy Butler (PF)	Prob Fri	Flu - 04 / 05 / 21	7-4	7-4	+ -
Butler missed the last game due to flu-like symptoms, but it is expected that he will face the Timberwolves on Friday.
Andre Iguodala (SG)	Prob Tues	Hip - 03 / 05 / 21	7-4	7-4	+ -
Iguodala is dealing with a hip injury, but it is likely that he will suit up against the Mavericks on Tuesday.
Goran Dragic (PG)	Prob Sun	Back - 02 / 05 / 21	8-4	8-4	+ -
Dragic is bothered by a back injury, but he is projected to lace up for Sunday's game against the Hornets.
Nemanja Bjelica (PF)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 01 / 05 / 21	8-4	9-4	+ -
Bjelica is sidelined due to a stomach illness, and it is unclear when he will be available to return to the lineup.
Gabe Vincent (SG)	Ques Sun	Knee - 30 / 04 / 21	8-4	9-4	+ -
Vincent is tending to a knee injury, and it is unknow if he will play in Sunday's game versus the Hornets.

Brooklyn

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Alize Johnson (SF)	Ques Sat	Ankle - 30 / 05 / 21	6-3	2-6-1	+ -
Johnson is bothered by a left ankle sprain, and it has yet to be determined if he will dress for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference second round versus the Bucks.
Jeff Green (SF)	Prob Sun	Foot - 25 / 05 / 21	8-3	3-7-1	+ -
Green is managing a left foot strained plantar fascia, but it projected that he will be available for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference second round versus the Bucks.
Landry Shamet (PG)	Prob Sat	Ankle - 21 / 05 / 21	9-3	4-7-1	+ -
Shamet is bothered by a left ankle sprain, but he is expected to face the Celtics in the Eastern Conference first round.
Joe Harris (SG)	Prob Sat	Hip - 12 / 05 / 21	12-3	5-9-1	+ -
Harris is dealing with hip soreness, but he is likely to be available for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the Celtics.
Bruce Brown (PG)	Ques Tues	Face - 11 / 05 / 21	13-3	6-9-1	+ -
Brown is hampered by a facial contusion, and it is unknown if he will be in the lineup for Tuesday's tilt versus the Bulls.
Bruce Brown (PG)	Ques Sun	Knee - 26 / 04 / 21	16-7	8-14-1	+ -
Brown has missed the last three contests with right knee soreness, and it has yet to be determined if he will take on the Bucks on Sunday.
Alize Johnson (SF)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 23 / 04 / 21	17-8	8-16-1	+ -
Johnson is out of the lineup while going through the NBA's health and safety protocols, and there is no timetable for his return to action.
Nicolas Claxton (PF)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 19 / 04 / 21	18-9	9-17-1	+ -
Claxton is sidelined while going through the NBA's health and safety protocols, and it has yet to be established when he will return.
Reggie Perry (PF)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 19 / 04 / 21	18-9	9-17-1	+ -
Perry it out of commission while he is enrolled in the NBA's health and safety protocols, and it is unknown when he will return to the court.
Blake Griffin (PF)	Out Fri	Rest - 16 / 04 / 21	20-9	11-17-1	+ -
Griffin will not be in the lineup Friday versus the Hornets, as he will be given a day of rest.