NBA Knowledge
Hot teams
-- Spurs won last seven games, covered four of last five.
-- Chicago won six of last seven games (4-1 last five HF).
-- Warriors won last six games, covered last three.
-- Miami won four of its last six games (3-1 last four AU).
Cold teams
-- Brooklyn lost last four games; they fired the coach yesterday.
-- Wizards lost five of their last seven games (6-2 last eight AU).
Series records
-- Spurs won eight of last ten games with Brooklyn.
-- Wizards won six of last nine games with Chicago.
-- Warriors won five of last seven games with Miami.
Totals
-- Five of last six San Antonio games went over total.
-- Nets' last six games all stayed under.
-- Under is 7-3 in last ten Washington games.
-- Four of last six Golden State games went over total.
Back/backs
-- None
Armadillosports.com
Heat, Warriors hook up
By Sportsbook.ag
MIAMI HEAT (22-15) at GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (35-2)
Sportsbook.ag Line: Golden State -13.0
The Warriors will be going for their seventh straight victory when they host the Heat on Monday.
The Heat faced the Jazz on Saturday and lost 98-83 as 1.5-point road favorites. Miami has now lost two of its past three games both SU and ATS and the team is not playing the type of defense that fans have grown accustomed to. The Heat have now allowed their opponents to shoot 54% or better from the field in two of the past three games and they must play better on defense in order to get back into the win column.
The Warriors, meanwhile, have been scorching hot lately. Golden State defeated Sacramento 128-116 as an 8.5-point road favorite on Saturday and the team has now shot 50% or better from the field in five of its past six contests. Four of the Warriors’ past six games have gone Over the total as well. These two teams have not met since Jan. 14, 2015, when the Warriors beat the Heat 104-89.
Over the past three seasons, the Warriors are 3-1 SU and 2-0-1 ATS when facing the Heat. Three of the four games have gone Over the total. One thing that favors Miami coming into this game is the fact that Golden State is 4-13 ATS after a combined score of 215 points or more in two straight games over the past two seasons. The Warriors are, however, an impressive 14-3 ATS after playing a game as a road favorite this season.
Some injuries that are worth noting include SG Tyler Johnson (Shoulder) being questionable for Miami and SG Leandro Barbosa (Shoulder) and PF James Michael McAdoo (Toe) being doubtful for Golden State.
The Heat have been one of the best teams in the league defensively this season, allowing just 94.8 PPG (2nd in NBA). The problem is that they have been lousy on that end recently and their offense is not good enough to make up for a poor effort. Miami is averaging just 97.0 PPG (25th in NBA) and if the team is going to have a chance against Golden State then it will need to be a lot better on offense or start playing the type of defense it has all season.
SG Dwyane Wade (18.5 PPG, 4.4 APG, 4.0 RPG, 1.0 SPG) has been dealing with a shoulder injury, but he is likely going to play in this game and he must be effective if he does. Wade was miserable in Utah, finishing with just eight points on a lousy 3-for-17 shooting from the field. He needs to be more efficient on Monday and do a good job of staying with Klay Thompson defensively too.
PF Chris Bosh (19.2 PPG, 7.9 RPG) will likely take on a bulk of the scoring load in this game. Bosh has been on fire recently, averaging 24.0 PPG on 52.4% shooting from the field over the past five contests.
PG Goran Dragic (12.3 PPG, 5.0 APG, 1.0 SPG) may just be the x-factor for Miami, though. Dragic will need to be ready to play on both ends of the floor, as Miami can lose this game in a hurry if Stephen Curry is to badly outplay him. Dragic must dig in defensively and he’ll also need to knock down some shots when he gets himself open.
The Warriors are hot again and PG Stephen Curry (29.5 PPG, 6.5 APG, 5.3 RPG, 2.1 SPG) absolutely lit it up on Saturday. The reigning MVP poured in 38 points on 12-for-21 shooting from the field and 8-for-14 shooting from the outside in a win over Sacramento. He also dished out 11 assists in that game. Curry feeling confident is about the worst thing imaginable for the Heat coming into Monday’s meeting and the Warriors guard will be aggressive once again in this game. Miami has been struggling defensively recently and Curry will attack any weaknesses that the opposing team presents.
SG Klay Thompson (21.1 PPG) has also been on fire for Golden State lately. Over the past five games, Thompson is averaging 28.6 PPG and he is shooting 44% from the outside in that span. That number is impressive itself, but it’s even more impressive when factoring in that he’s shooting 10 threes per game in those contests. PF Draymond Green (15.0 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 7.4 APG, 1.4 BPG, 1.3 SPG) will likely be the x-factor in this one, though. Green is a triple-double threat every night, but he will need to be outstanding on the defensive end in this one. He’ll spend a lot of time covering Bosh and if he can do a solid job then the Warriors could coast to another double-digit win.