Raptors vs. Heat Prediction
The Miami Heat are currently slotted into the seventh spot in the Eastern Conference Playoffs with one game remaining, but a loss could drop them to the eighth spot. Are the Heat going to get an important victory tonight when they host the Toronto Raptors on the final day of the regular season.
Game Snapshot & Current Odds
701 Toronto Raptors -2.5 at 702 Miami Heat; 206.5
Wednesday, April 11, 2018
AmericanAirlines Arena, 8:10PM ET
TV: TSNN (TOR), Fox Sports Sun (MIA)
Public Betting Trends
As of Wednesday afternoon, 51 percent of public bets are being placed on the visiting Raptors. Check our NBA Public Bets Page for all the latest info.
Heat in position to keep seventh seed
Despite losing its last two games, Miami is in a good spot to hold onto the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference as long as it tops a Raptors team that has had the No. 1 seed locked up for a while and could potentially rest key players here. The Heat would be best served in the seventh seed as they would draw a first round matchup with the hurting Celtics, whereas falling behind the Wizards into the eighth seed would mean a first round facing the powerful Raptors.
The Heat have looked awful in their last two games with a 122-98 at the Knicks and a 115-93 home loss to the Thunder, but they haven’t lost any ground and a win would give them an ideal playoff slot.
Will Miami ever put trust in Whiteside?
Heat center Hassan Whiteside has had an up-and-down season with some time spent on the sideline due to a hip injury. But when healthy and on the court, he’s proven to be a difference maker as he averages 14 points along with 11.7 rebounds and 1.7 blocks. He has a PER of 24.24. But the issue is that he is only playing 25.3 minutes per game and has multiple times this season expressed his frustration over a lack of playing time. Even with five more minutes per game on the court, it seems like his dominance would shine through that much further. But whether that ever happens remains to be seen. Whiteside had 16 points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots in the loss to the Thunder last game but only played 21 minutes.
NBA Betting Trends
Toronto
The Raptors are 3-0-1 ATS in its last four games overall. Toronto is 3-0-1 ATS in its last four games when the opponent allowed 100 or more points their previous game. Toronto is 1-5-1 ATS in its last seven games played on one day of rest.
Miami
The Heat are 0-4 ATS in their last four home games and 1-5 ATS in their last six games overall. The under is 5-1 in the last six Miami games after a straight up loss.
Prediction:
Miami is the underdog, but it should be the more motivated team here as it is fighting to stay out of the eighth seed. Toronto can merely view this as a tune-up game and will be focused on not pushing its stars too hard or getting anyone injured. The Heat have covered the spread all three meetings this season and I believe they make it four straight here.
NBA DAILY PREDICTION: MIAMI HEAT +2.5
