Miami Heat vs. Toronto Raptors Spread: NBA Odds, Prediction
-
Charlie Grant
The Raptors return home to face the Miami Heat one night after edging past the Brooklyn Nets in overtime. A win over Toronto at the ACC would headline Miami’s recent hot streak.
NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis
The Raptors opened as 6.5-point home favourites with the total set at 208 on the NBA odds board. Toronto won but failed to cover as a 7.5-point road favourite at Brooklyn last night. The result sees the Raptors improve to 28-10 straight up and 22-16 against the spread on the season. The Dinos scored more than 110 points for a fifth straight contest, and the over is 4-0 in their last four games and 20-18 for the campaign.
The Heat snuck past the Utah Jazz 103-102 on Sunday night and extended their win streak to four games. Miami is 11-4 straight up (8-7 ATS) over its last 15 games and 22-17 for the season. The club is 0-2 ATS in its last two contests and 16-21-2 overall. The Raptors have yet to play the Heat but went 3-1 SU and 2-2 ATS against the squad last season. The over is 4-0 in Miami’s last four contests and 63 percent of Sports Interaction bettors are expecting the game to play over the 208-point total.
Miami Heat
What Miami lacks in superstar talent it makes up for in overall depth and team cohesion. The Heat don’t have a player averaging more than 17 points per game but they do have eight players averaging more than 10 a night.
This team has changed drastically from the group that faced the Raptors in the playoffs two years ago. Miami, at that time, still included Dwyane Wade and center Hassan Whiteside was the monster in the middle. Wade is gone and Whiteside’s role is diminishing. Head coach Erik Spoelstra seems to be splitting the minutes at centre between Whiteside and former Celtic sharpshooter Kelly Olynyk.
Toronto Raptors
Toronto owns the best home record in the Association at 14-1 (9-6 ATS) and 12 of the club’s next 16 games will be played at the ACC. There’s a real chance the Raptors could have the best record in the NBA at All-Star break if they hold the home-court advantage over the next six weeks.
