Dwane Casey has the Toronto Raptors sitting alone atop the Eastern Conference standings.
A franchise hero has returned to Miami and but does a 36-year-old Dwyane Wade have anything left in the tank to help the Heat? The Raptors are looking to extend their five-game win streak and avenge a 1-point home loss to the Heat last month in the process.
NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
| time | fav | line | total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening 13 Feb 5:28am | MIA | -8 -110 | O +206.5 -110 |
| Closing 13 Feb 11:58pm | MIA | -8 -115 | O +205.5 -110 |
Miami is coming off 91-85 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday which saw the return of Wade to the 305. It was the Heat’s first victory in six games and brought their season record up to 30-26 straight up and 26-27-3 against the spread. Miami is one of the best under bets in the Association with a 22-34 over/under mark. Toronto can enter the All-Star break riding a seven-game winning streak if it takes care of business on Tuesday against the Heat and the next night at Chicago for a Valentine’s Day showdown with the Bulls. The Raptors are atop the standings in the Eastern Conference at 39-16 straight up and are 31-24 against the spread overall.
The Heat won an ugly game at the ACC in January facing a Raptors side that was missing All-Star point guard Kyle Lowry. Miami has covered the spread in three of its last four games against the Raps and betting the under has been the right decision in each of the last five meetings between the two clubs.
Miami Heat
Wade is back but he’s nowhere close to the player he was two years ago when he almost got the Heat past the Raptors in the second round of the playoffs. He went 1-for-6 from the field in his first game back but did register a key block late in the game. Miami would be happy if he can provide a bit of a boost of the bench and – if possible – create his own shot late in games when the team offense isn’t humming. Don’t expect the Heat to play Wade in the starting lineup; he and Goran Dragic never seemed to jell on the court together.
Toronto Raptors
Toronto’s point differential is now at +8.3 and trails only the Houston Rockets for the best in the league. Despite being six games up on them in the standings, the Raptors still trail the Cleveland Cavaliers on the Sports Interaction’s odds to win the NBA Eastern Conference. Cleveland is first at +135, Boston is second at +220 and Toronto is third at +330.
Injuries
Tyler Johnson (SG)
Josh Richardson (SF)
Hassan Whiteside (C)
James Johnson (PF)
Dwyane Wade (SG)
Bam Adebayo (C)
Justise Winslow (SF)
Wayne Ellington (SG)
Rodney McGruder (SG)
Goran Dragic (PG)
Fred VanVleet (PG)
OG Anunoby (SF)
Pascal Siakam (PF)
Serge Ibaka (PF)
Norman Powell (SF)
Lucas Nogueira (C)
Jonas Valanciunas (C)
CJ Miles (SF)
Delon Wright (PG)
Nigel Hayes (SF)
Injuries
| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tyler Johnson (SG) | Prob Tues | Thumb - 24 / 04 / 18 | 0-1 | 0-1 | + - |
|
Johnson is expected to suit up for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference first round against the 76ers despite a sore thumb. |
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| Josh Richardson (SF) | Prob Tues | Shoulder - 22 / 04 / 18 | 0-1 | 0-1 | + - |
|
Richardson suffered a shoulder sprain but is likely to play against the 76ers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference first round. |
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| Hassan Whiteside (C) | Ques Sat | Undisclosed - 11 / 04 / 18 | 2-4 | 3-3 | + - |
|
Whiteside is nursing an unspecified injury and his status against the 76ers for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round is up in the air. |
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| James Johnson (PF) | Prob Fri | Ankle - 04 / 04 / 18 | 3-6 | 4-5 | + - |
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Johnson missed the last game with an ankle injury but is likely to participate in Friday's matchup against the Knicks. |
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| Dwyane Wade (SG) | Prob Fri | Wrist - 04 / 04 / 18 | 3-6 | 4-5 | + - |
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Wade sat out the last game due to a wrist injury but is expected to suit up against the Knicks on Friday. |
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| Bam Adebayo (C) | Prob Thurs | Ankle - 27 / 03 / 18 | 4-9 | 6-7 | + - |
|
Adebayo sat out the last game with an ankle injury but is likely to be available for Thursday's matchup against the Bulls. |
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| Justise Winslow (SF) | day-to-day | Knee - 11 / 03 / 18 | 9-11 | 10-10-1 | + - |
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Winslow injured his knee last game but is expected to suit up for Monday's contest against the Trail Blazers. |
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| Wayne Ellington (SG) | Prob Thurs | Quadricep - 27 / 02 / 18 | 12-12 | 14-12-1 | + - |
|
Ellington has missed the last four games due to a left quadriceps contusion but is likely to return against the 76ers on Thursday. |
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| Rodney McGruder (SG) | Prob Tues | Leg - 27 / 02 / 18 | 12-12 | 14-12-1 | + - |
|
McGruder is dealing with a leg injury but is expected to be available against the 76ers on Tuesday. |
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| Goran Dragic (PG) | Prob Tues | Hand - 10 / 02 / 18 | 16-13 | 18-13-1 | + - |
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Dragic hurt his left hand in the previous game but is likely to suit up Tuesday against the Raptors. |
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| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fred VanVleet (PG) | Prob Thurs | Shoulder - 01 / 05 / 18 | 2-2 | 2-2 | + - |
|
VanVleet is dealing with a shoulder injury but is expected to be available for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Cavaliers. |
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| OG Anunoby (SF) | Prob Wed | Ankle - 23 / 04 / 18 | 3-3 | 2-4 | + - |
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Anunoby suffered an ankle injury but is likely to be available for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference first round against the Wizards. |
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| Pascal Siakam (PF) | Prob Sun | Mouth - 21 / 04 / 18 | 3-4 | 3-4 | + - |
|
Siakam will likely be available for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference first round against the Wizards despite requiring stitches for a lacerated lip. |
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| Serge Ibaka (PF) | Prob Sat | Mouth - 12 / 04 / 18 | 5-5 | 6-4 | + - |
|
Ibaka is expected to play against the Wizards in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round despite taking a hit to his mouth in a previous game. |
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| Norman Powell (SF) | Ques Mon | Knee - 09 / 04 / 18 | 6-5 | 7-5 | + - |
|
Powell suffered a knee injury in the previous game and it is unclear if he will play Monday against the Pistons. |
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| Lucas Nogueira (C) | Ques Sat | Hamstring - 08 / 04 / 18 | 7-5 | 7-6 | + - |
|
Nogueira is dealing with left hamstring tightness and it is uncertain if he will play against the Wizards in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round. |
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| Jonas Valanciunas (C) | Out Sun | Rest - 08 / 04 / 18 | 7-5 | 7-6 | + - |
|
Valanciunas will receive a day of rest and will not participate in Sunday's game against the Magic. |
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| CJ Miles (SF) | Prob Sun | Illness - 21 / 03 / 18 | 8-12 | 11-10 | + - |
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Miles has missed the last two games due to a bout of gastroenteritis but is expected to be available against the Clippers on Sunday. |
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| Delon Wright (PG) | Doub Sun | Toe - 06 / 03 / 18 | 13-16 | 15-15 | + - |
|
Wright missed the last game due to a sprained right big toe and is not likely to play on Sunday against the Knicks. |
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| Nigel Hayes (SF) | Ques Fri | Personal - 06 / 03 / 18 | 13-16 | 15-15 | + - |
|
Hayes is dealing with visa issues and it is uncertain if he will be available for Friday's tilt against the Rockets. |
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Heat vs. Raptors Prediction
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Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
time fav line total Opening 13 Feb 5:28am MIA -8 -110 O +206.5 -110 Closing 13 Feb 11:58pm MIA -8 -115 O +205.5 -110 -
Injuries
Tyler Johnson (SG)
Prob Tues Thumb - 24 / 04 / 18Josh Richardson (SF)
Prob Tues Shoulder - 22 / 04 / 18Hassan Whiteside (C)
Ques Sat Undisclosed - 11 / 04 / 18James Johnson (PF)
Prob Fri Ankle - 04 / 04 / 18Dwyane Wade (SG)
Prob Fri Wrist - 04 / 04 / 18Bam Adebayo (C)
Prob Thurs Ankle - 27 / 03 / 18Justise Winslow (SF)
day-to-day Knee - 11 / 03 / 18Wayne Ellington (SG)
Prob Thurs Quadricep - 27 / 02 / 18Rodney McGruder (SG)
Prob Tues Leg - 27 / 02 / 18Goran Dragic (PG)
Prob Tues Hand - 10 / 02 / 18Fred VanVleet (PG)
Prob Thurs Shoulder - 01 / 05 / 18OG Anunoby (SF)
Prob Wed Ankle - 23 / 04 / 18Pascal Siakam (PF)
Prob Sun Mouth - 21 / 04 / 18Serge Ibaka (PF)
Prob Sat Mouth - 12 / 04 / 18Norman Powell (SF)
Ques Mon Knee - 09 / 04 / 18Lucas Nogueira (C)
Ques Sat Hamstring - 08 / 04 / 18Jonas Valanciunas (C)
Out Sun Rest - 08 / 04 / 18CJ Miles (SF)
Prob Sun Illness - 21 / 03 / 18Delon Wright (PG)
Doub Sun Toe - 06 / 03 / 18Nigel Hayes (SF)
Ques Fri Personal - 06 / 03 / 18Injuries
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Tyler Johnson (SG) Prob Tues Thumb - 24 / 04 / 18 0-1 0-1 + - Johnson is expected to suit up for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference first round against the 76ers despite a sore thumb.
Josh Richardson (SF) Prob Tues Shoulder - 22 / 04 / 18 0-1 0-1 + - Richardson suffered a shoulder sprain but is likely to play against the 76ers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Hassan Whiteside (C) Ques Sat Undisclosed - 11 / 04 / 18 2-4 3-3 + - Whiteside is nursing an unspecified injury and his status against the 76ers for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round is up in the air.
James Johnson (PF) Prob Fri Ankle - 04 / 04 / 18 3-6 4-5 + - Johnson missed the last game with an ankle injury but is likely to participate in Friday's matchup against the Knicks.
Dwyane Wade (SG) Prob Fri Wrist - 04 / 04 / 18 3-6 4-5 + - Wade sat out the last game due to a wrist injury but is expected to suit up against the Knicks on Friday.
Bam Adebayo (C) Prob Thurs Ankle - 27 / 03 / 18 4-9 6-7 + - Adebayo sat out the last game with an ankle injury but is likely to be available for Thursday's matchup against the Bulls.
Justise Winslow (SF) day-to-day Knee - 11 / 03 / 18 9-11 10-10-1 + - Winslow injured his knee last game but is expected to suit up for Monday's contest against the Trail Blazers.
Wayne Ellington (SG) Prob Thurs Quadricep - 27 / 02 / 18 12-12 14-12-1 + - Ellington has missed the last four games due to a left quadriceps contusion but is likely to return against the 76ers on Thursday.
Rodney McGruder (SG) Prob Tues Leg - 27 / 02 / 18 12-12 14-12-1 + - McGruder is dealing with a leg injury but is expected to be available against the 76ers on Tuesday.
Goran Dragic (PG) Prob Tues Hand - 10 / 02 / 18 16-13 18-13-1 + - Dragic hurt his left hand in the previous game but is likely to suit up Tuesday against the Raptors.
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Fred VanVleet (PG) Prob Thurs Shoulder - 01 / 05 / 18 2-2 2-2 + - VanVleet is dealing with a shoulder injury but is expected to be available for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Cavaliers.
OG Anunoby (SF) Prob Wed Ankle - 23 / 04 / 18 3-3 2-4 + - Anunoby suffered an ankle injury but is likely to be available for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference first round against the Wizards.
Pascal Siakam (PF) Prob Sun Mouth - 21 / 04 / 18 3-4 3-4 + - Siakam will likely be available for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference first round against the Wizards despite requiring stitches for a lacerated lip.
Serge Ibaka (PF) Prob Sat Mouth - 12 / 04 / 18 5-5 6-4 + - Ibaka is expected to play against the Wizards in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round despite taking a hit to his mouth in a previous game.
Norman Powell (SF) Ques Mon Knee - 09 / 04 / 18 6-5 7-5 + - Powell suffered a knee injury in the previous game and it is unclear if he will play Monday against the Pistons.
Lucas Nogueira (C) Ques Sat Hamstring - 08 / 04 / 18 7-5 7-6 + - Nogueira is dealing with left hamstring tightness and it is uncertain if he will play against the Wizards in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Jonas Valanciunas (C) Out Sun Rest - 08 / 04 / 18 7-5 7-6 + - Valanciunas will receive a day of rest and will not participate in Sunday's game against the Magic.
CJ Miles (SF) Prob Sun Illness - 21 / 03 / 18 8-12 11-10 + - Miles has missed the last two games due to a bout of gastroenteritis but is expected to be available against the Clippers on Sunday.
Delon Wright (PG) Doub Sun Toe - 06 / 03 / 18 13-16 15-15 + - Wright missed the last game due to a sprained right big toe and is not likely to play on Sunday against the Knicks.
Nigel Hayes (SF) Ques Fri Personal - 06 / 03 / 18 13-16 15-15 + - Hayes is dealing with visa issues and it is uncertain if he will be available for Friday's tilt against the Rockets.