The Heat are priced as 9-point favourites on the NBA odds.

Wizards vs. Heat NBA In-Season Tournament Betting Odds

Soccer leagues all around the world have in-season tournaments – the Champions League being the most notable – and NBA commissioner Adam Silver has wanted for years to institute one in his sport and it finally happened this offseason. These, however, count toward the NBA’s 82-game regular season. 

All 30 teams were been randomly drawn into groups of five within their conference based on won-loss records from the 2022-23 regular season. Beginning Friday and through Nov. 28 on Tuesday and Fridays except for next Tuesday (election night), each team will play every other club in its group once (two home, two away).  Eight teams advance to the Knockout Rounds: The six group winners and two wild cards, which is one team from each conference with the best record in group play that finished second in its group. The Knockout Rounds will be single-elimination games. The semifinals and final are in Las Vegas. There’s a prize pool and the winning club gets the NBA Cup. The 22 teams that don’t advance will still get their full 82 games in with some creative scheduling. 

Along with Washington and Miami in Group B are Milwaukee, New York and Charlotte. The Bucks are -115 group favourites. It’s the first meeting of the season between the Wizards and Heat. The split four games last season, each sweeping at home.

Washington Wizards

The Wizards for years had been stuck in mediocrity and finally they committed to a clear path this offseason: Full-blown rebuild after trading away All-Stars Bradley Beal (to Phoenix) and Kristaps Porzingis (to Boston). To no surprise, Washington is 1-3 and has the East’s worst point differential at minus-11.0. The defence is truly horrific, allowing a league-worst 126.3 points per game and 49 per cent shooting from the field. Kyle Kuzma is now the team’s best player and is averaging team-highs of 23.0 points and 7.2 rebounds. It would be a major surprise if he’s still around after February’s trade deadline. Jordan Poole was acquired from Golden State in one of those summer trades and is second on the club in averaging 17.3 ppg. Centre Daniel Gafford (8.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg) has missed the past two due to a sprained left ankle but may return after a partial practice Thursday. 

Miami Heat

The biggest losers of this NBA offseason? One could argue it’s Miami as the Heat were always linked to Portland superstar Damian Lillard but lost out on him to Milwaukee. Between that and an aging roster that played into mid-June last year, losing in the  NBA Finals to Denver, perhaps it’s not a huge shock the team is off to a 1-4 start – think of it like a Super Bowl Loser’s hangover. It’s Miami’s worst start since 2007-08 (0-5). The Heat really had no right losing at home to a short-handed Nets team on Wednesday, though, 109-105. Brooklyn outscored Miami 34-22 in the fourth. Tyler Herro was the key piece the Heat were offering in the Lillard deal, but the Blazers didn’t want him. Herro seems energized by staying put as he leads the team in scoring at a career-high 26.2 ppg. Former Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry still starts but really in name only as he’s averaging just 6.0 points and 4.2 assists per game. Key reserve Caleb Martin, a playoff hero last season, is out with a knee injury. 105

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Wizards vs. Heat?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Wizards Team Leaders

WAS

Points	Kyle Kuzma 22.19
Assists	Tyus Jones 7.35
Rebounds	Marvin Bagley III 8.08
FG%	Marvin Bagley III 58.1
Steals	Jordan Poole 1.1
Blocks	Marvin Bagley III 0.79

MIA

Points	Tyler Herro 20.83
Assists	Jimmy Butler 4.97
Rebounds	Bam Adebayo 10.38
FG%	Thomas Bryant 57.7
Steals	Delon Wright 1.36
Blocks	Bam Adebayo 0.93

WAS

Points
Assists
Rebounds	Did not qualify
FG%
Steals
Blocks

MIA

Points	Bam Adebayo 22.6
Assists	Tyler Herro 5.4
Rebounds	Bam Adebayo 9.4
FG%	Thomas Bryant 71.4
Steals	Delon Wright 1
Blocks	Nikola Jovic 0.6

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Heat Team Leaders

WAS

Points	Kyle Kuzma 22.19
Assists	Tyus Jones 7.35
Rebounds	Marvin Bagley III 8.08
FG%	Marvin Bagley III 58.1
Steals	Jordan Poole 1.1
Blocks	Marvin Bagley III 0.79

MIA

Points	Tyler Herro 20.83
Assists	Jimmy Butler 4.97
Rebounds	Bam Adebayo 10.38
FG%	Thomas Bryant 57.7
Steals	Delon Wright 1.36
Blocks	Bam Adebayo 0.93

WAS

Points
Assists
Rebounds	Did not qualify
FG%
Steals
Blocks

MIA

Points	Bam Adebayo 22.6
Assists	Tyler Herro 5.4
Rebounds	Bam Adebayo 9.4
FG%	Thomas Bryant 71.4
Steals	Delon Wright 1
Blocks	Nikola Jovic 0.6

Injuries

Washington

Anthony Gill (PF)

Prob Sun Knee - 13 / 04 / 24

Tristan Vukcevic (SF)

Out Sun Ankle - 13 / 04 / 24

Deni Avdija (SF)

Ques Fri Illness - 12 / 04 / 24

Jordan Poole (SG)

Out Sun Illness - 11 / 04 / 24

Eugene Omoruyi (SF)

Ques Fri Illness - 11 / 04 / 24

Tristan Vukcevic (SF)

Prob Fri Knee - 08 / 04 / 24

Johnny Davis (PG)

Prob Tues Hip - 07 / 04 / 24

Anthony Gill (PF)

Prob Tues Knee - 07 / 04 / 24

Kyle Kuzma (PF)

Out Sun Ankle - 04 / 04 / 24

Deni Avdija (SF)

Prob Fri Migraine - 03 / 04 / 24

Miami

Kevin Love (PF)

Prob Sat Arm - 26 / 04 / 24

Delon Wright (PG)

Prob Mon Personal - 26 / 04 / 24

Nikola Jovic (SF)

Prob Wed Back - 24 / 04 / 24

Haywood Highsmith (SF)

Prob Wed Arm - 23 / 04 / 24

Kevin Love (PF)

Prob Wed Arm - 23 / 04 / 24

Duncan Robinson (SF)

Prob Wed Back - 23 / 04 / 24

Duncan Robinson (SF)

Prob Sun Spine - 20 / 04 / 24

Jimmy Butler (PF)

Out indefinitely Knee - 18 / 04 / 24

Duncan Robinson (SF)

Prob Fri Spine - 18 / 04 / 24

Kevin Love (PF)

Prob Wed Arm - 14 / 04 / 24

Injuries

Washington

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Anthony Gill (PF)	Prob Sun	Knee - 13 / 04 / 24	0-1	1-0	+ -
Gill is tending to right knee soreness, but it is not likely to affect his status for Sunday's battle with the Celtics.
Tristan Vukcevic (SF)	Out Sun	Ankle - 13 / 04 / 24	0-1	1-0	+ -
Vukcevic is hampered by a right ankle sprain, and he will not face the Celtics on Sunday.
Deni Avdija (SF)	Ques Fri	Illness - 12 / 04 / 24	1-1	2-0	+ -
Avdija is nursing an illness, and it remains to be seen if he will face the Bulls on Friday.
Jordan Poole (SG)	Out Sun	Illness - 11 / 04 / 24	1-1	2-0	+ -
Poole sat out the last match with an illness, and he will not take the court versus the Celtics on Sunday.
Eugene Omoruyi (SF)	Ques Fri	Illness - 11 / 04 / 24	1-1	2-0	+ -
Omoruyi has come down with an illness, putting his status for Friday's battle with the Bulls in question.
Tristan Vukcevic (SF)	Prob Fri	Knee - 08 / 04 / 24	1-2	3-0	+ -
Vukcevic sat out the last contest with left knee soreness, but it is forecasted that he will be in Friday's lineup against the Bulls.
Johnny Davis (PG)	Prob Tues	Hip - 07 / 04 / 24	1-3	3-1	+ -
Davis was lifted from the last contest with a left hip contusion, but it is projected that he will play against the Timberwolves on Tuesday.
Anthony Gill (PF)	Prob Tues	Knee - 07 / 04 / 24	1-3	3-1	+ -
Gill was held out of the previous contest with right knee soreness, but it is projected that he will dress for Tuesday's showdown versus the Timberwolves.
Kyle Kuzma (PF)	Out Sun	Ankle - 04 / 04 / 24	2-3	4-1	+ -
Kuzma has been absent from the previous four games with a right ankle sprain, and he will not suit up Sunday against the Celtics.
Deni Avdija (SF)	Prob Fri	Migraine - 03 / 04 / 24	3-3	5-1	+ -
Avdija exited the previous clash due to a migraine, but it is not expected to impact his status for Friday's battle with the Trail Blazers.

Miami

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Kevin Love (PF)	Prob Sat	Arm - 26 / 04 / 24	1-2	1-2	+ -
Love is tending to a left arm contusion, but it is anticipated that he will suit up for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference first round against the Celtics.
Delon Wright (PG)	Prob Mon	Personal - 26 / 04 / 24	1-2	1-2	+ -
Wright is dealing with a personal matter, but it is predicted that he will face the Celtics in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Nikola Jovic (SF)	Prob Wed	Back - 24 / 04 / 24	1-3	1-3	+ -
Jovic is dealing with a back injury, but it is anticipated that he will not suit up for Wednesday's tilt versus the Celtics.
Haywood Highsmith (SF)	Prob Wed	Arm - 23 / 04 / 24	1-3	1-3	+ -
Highsmith is tending to a left arm contusion, but it is anticipated that he will play against the Celtics in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Kevin Love (PF)	Prob Wed	Arm - 23 / 04 / 24	1-3	1-3	+ -
Love has a left arm contusion, but it is projected that he will take on the Celtics in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Duncan Robinson (SF)	Prob Wed	Back - 23 / 04 / 24	1-3	1-3	+ -
Robinson is managing left facet syndrome, but it is likely that he will dress for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the Celtics.
Duncan Robinson (SF)	Prob Sun	Spine - 20 / 04 / 24	1-3	1-3	+ -
Robinson is dealing with left facet syndrome, but it is not expected to impact his status for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round against the Celtics.
Jimmy Butler (PF)	Out indefinitely	Knee - 18 / 04 / 24	1-3	1-3	+ -
Butler is shut down with an MCL sprain in his right knee, and he will miss an extended period.
Duncan Robinson (SF)	Prob Fri	Spine - 18 / 04 / 24	1-3	1-3	+ -
Robinson is battling left facet syndrome, but he is projected to take the court for Friday's clash versus the Bulls.
Kevin Love (PF)	Prob Wed	Arm - 14 / 04 / 24	2-4	3-3	+ -
Love is tending to an upper left arm contusion, but it is likely that he will be available for the Eastern Conference Play-in tournament versus the 76ers.