Heat vs. Wizards Pick
Will the Washington Wizards be able to cruise to a home win over the Miami Heat when the two meet up tonight at 7PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, Washington is favored at home tonight, as the Wizards are getting odds of -6 points against the Heat. The over/under total for the game is listed at 215 points. Miami has won and covered the spread in both meetings with the Wizards this season.
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Miami is nearing must-win mode, as they have lost three of their last four games to fall to 38-41 on the season. Miami is ninth in the East, 1 game behind both Indiana and Chicago for the two final playoff spots. Miami has managed to cover the spread in two straight to get to 47-31-1 against the spread on the season. Miami averages 102.8 points per game on offense while allowing 101.9 on defense this season. Over their last five, the Heat are putting up 103.6 on offense while giving up 99.4 on defense. Goran Dragic is putting up 20.3 points and 5.8 assists per game to lead the team while Hassan Whiteside adds 16.6 points and 14.1 rebounds per game.
Washington has won two straight games to move to 48-31 on the season. They are in the fourth spot in the East right now, but just a ½ game behind Toronto for the third seed. The Wizards can’t fall below the fourth spot in the East. They are just 1-4 against the spread in their last five games and now sit at 40-38-1 ATS on the season. Washington is averaging 109.4 points per game on offense this season while giving up 107.4 on defense. However, over their last five Washington averages 110.2 on offense while the defense is giving up 116.2. John Wall is averaging 23.2 points and 10.7 assists per game to lead the team while Bradley Beal is adding 23.1 points per contest.
The Wizards do have something to play for, but the Heat are more desperate tonight. Miami has to win with three games left and I think the Heat are getting too many points given their current situation. Miami and Washington have been arguably the top teams in the second half of the season, so this should be a good battle, but I like the Heat to play this like a playoff game and get the cover, if not the win as well.
NBA DAILY PREDICTION: MIAMI HEAT +6