Toronto Raptors vs. Miami Heat Prediction, NBA Odds

Nik Kowalski | Updated Dec 12, 2024

The Toronto Raptors will begin a stretch without Scottie Barnes when they visit the Miami Heat on Thursday night.

Toronto
16-37
AT
December 12, 2024, 7:30 PM ET
American Airlines Arena
Miami
25-26
Pointspread +10.5 -105
Moneyline +400
Over / Under o +224.5
Pointspread -10.5 -115
Moneyline -550
Over / Under u +224.5

Barnes is out for at least the next week with an ankle sprain, which is a tough blow for the 7-18 Raptors. The news comes at a bad time too as Miami is starting to roll, winning three straight and seven of their last 10 as they climb up the Eastern Conference standings. The 12-10 Heat are now fourth in the East.

The sudden surge for Miami comes amidst Jimmy Butler trade rumours too. Butler and the Heat have gone over 120 points in each of their three straight victories and it’s Tyler Herro who’s had the hot hand with a pair of 30-plus-point nights. 

Tip-off at Kaseya Center gets underway at 7:30 p.m. EST with the Heat coming in as double-digit favourites on the point spread and the over-under at 222.5 on the NBA odds.

Raptors vs. Heat NBA Betting Odds

Dating back to last season, the Raptors are 1-14 in their last 15 games on the road. Toronto comes in well-rested though, not playing since Monday and not suiting up again until this upcoming Monday. This gap would typically be an advantage for Toronto, but Miami’s even more rested as they look to wrap up a four-game sweep of a home stand that started on December 4 and saw the Heat last take the court on Sunday vs. Cleveland.

Miami’s covered in six of their last seven home contests. Four of the last five Raptors–Heat meetings have finished over the total, and Toronto comes into this tilt having allowed a minimum of 110 points in seven straight games. Miami’s team total is listed at 117.5.

Toronto Raptors

With Scottie Barnes sidelined, Toronto’s going to need to fill a starting lineup spot and the answer when Barnes was again injured last month ended up being going smaller. Guard Davion Mitchell came into the Raptors starting five during Barnes’ prior absence and likely will again on Thursday. Another candidate could be rookie guard Ja’Kobe Walter, who is coming off a career-high 19 points against New York on Monday. Walter’s played 20-plus minutes in three straight games as his volume already has naturally increased.

Within the existing starters, it’s R.J. Barrett who’s going to need to take more on. Barrett’s averaging a team-high 23.6 points per game but will likely also need to become more of a distributor, as Barnes was averaging a team-high 7.4 assists per contest.

Miami Heat

With three comfortable home victories over the Lakers, Suns, and Cavaliers, Thursday has trap game potential. Miami’s experience should be able to overcome any concerns with Toronto being a trap for the Heat, especially considering their depth. Terry Rozier, Jaime Jaquez Jr. , and now Dru Smith are contributing off the bench and could all see some extra court time if this game gets out of hand.

And if it gets out of hand, Tyler Herro is likely going to have his fingerprints all over it. Herro’s been red hot in December with a trio of 30-point nights in Miami’s five games this month. The three-ball has been clicking for Herro too as he’s averaging nearly five made threes a game in December, and hit at least five in all three of his 30-point games this month.

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