Heat vs. Magic Pick
Are the Miami Heat and host Orlando Magic going to exceed the projected total tonight when they meet at 7PM ET?
Who Oddsmakers Like: According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, the Heat are a 1.5-point favorite on the spread line. The total is set at 204 points. Miami opened as a 1-point fave, while the total has dropped fairly significantly from 208 points.
Who the Public Likes: As of Saturday morning, 62 percent of the public bets are coming in on the Heat.
Injury Report: Heat guard Dion Waiters has missed the last three games with a foot injury and is questionable tonight. Justise Winslow has a strained right knee and is out indefinitely. James Johnson has right ankle bursitis and is out for tonight’s contest. Aaron Gordon is expected to play tonight for the Magic despite calf soreness. Evan Fournier has a right foot injury and his status is questionable. Jonathan Isaac missed the last game with an ankle injury and is out again tonight. Nikola Vucevic is out indefinitely with a broken hand. Terrence Ross is out indefinitely with a sprained MCL.
Who the Trends Like: The over is 4-1 in the last five meetings in Orlando. The Heat are 1-4 ATS in the last five meetings. The over is 6-2 in the last eight meetings.
Who We Like: These two teams are the walking wounded. Orlando has been unable to get back on track with all its injuries after a strong start to the year. Just as Gordon was returning, Vucevic broke his hand. Fournier had a fantastic start to the season, but has missed over a dozen games now. In this matchup against the Heat, I’m taking the slightly healthier team. Miami got point guard Goran Dragic and center Hassan Whiteside back from injury this week. Waiters could be back tonight, but even if he’s not Tyler Johnson has filled in admirably and Josh Richardson has played fantastic basketball the last few weeks. James Johnson is a big absence in the front court, but Kelly Olynyk has provided some big performances as of late.
NBA DAILY PREDICTION: MIAMI HEAT -1.5
