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Charlie Grant
Toronto Raptors vs. Miami Heat Spread: NBA Odds, Prediction
The Raptors close out a historic season on Wednesday night in Miami with a shot of becoming just the second team to win 60 games this year in the NBA. The Heat are hoping to win in Wednesday’s NBA matchup to grab the highest seed possible before the start of the playoffs.
NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis
The Raptors are riding a four-game win streak (3-0-1 against the spread) and are coming off a 108-98 win at Detroit on Monday night. Toronto is 59-22 straight up and 43-37-1 ATS on the season with a 40-40-1 over/under mark.
The Heat are looking to bounce back from back-to-back blowout losses against the Oklahoma City Thunder and New York Knicks. Miami is 4-5 SU and 2-6-1 ATS in its last nine games. The club is 43-38 SU and 39-36-3 ATS overall this season.
Toronto has had trouble with the Heat in recent meetings. The Raps are 0-3 against the number in their last three games against Goran Dragic and his South Florida teammates.
Toronto Raptors
Winning 60 games in no small feat and would be an excellent way to cap of a historical regular season for the Raptors. Keep in mind most sportsbooks like Sports Interaction had Toronto’s season win total set at 47.5 back in September. Getting to 60 wins outpaces preseason projections by 12.5 games. Not too shabby.
Serge Ibaka is expected to be available again after sitting out Monday’s game against Detroit for rest purposes. Backup point guard Fred VanVleet remains questionable because of a sore back. Pascal Siakam played well (+24 in 29 minutes) starting in place of Ibaba.
Miami Heat
The Heat roster makeup is similar to that of the Raptors with one glaring hole: Superstar talent. Miami is deep with a bunch of effective role players. Josh Richardson, James Johnson, Wayne Ellington and Kelly Olynyk are all cable of producing big games but not a consistent rate.
Toronto relies on its bench to bury teams in short spurts but it knows All-Stars DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry can bail the club out in tight spots. Miami used to be able to rely on Dwyane Wade for such occasions but the 36-year is a shell of his former self.
The Heat will tell you Goran Dragic and Hassan Whiteside are their franchise cornerstones but both struggle to produce in late-game scenarios.
