Free NBA Pick: Clippers vs. Heat NBA Odds
Looking for LA Clippers free NBA picks & NBA odds? NBA betting sees the Clippers taking on the Heat on Thursday, December 8th, 2021 at FTX Arena. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all NBA basketball matchups so stay tuned for more FREE daily NBA hoops predictions like this Clippers-Heat matchup.
2022 NBA Handicapping
(14-12) LA Clippers vs. Miami Heat (11-14)
Date: Thursday, December 8th
Time: 7:30 PM EST
Venue: FTX Arena, Miami, Florida
NBA Moneyline Odds: Clippers +170 | Heat -185 (Bet Now!)
NBA Betting Odds: Heat -4.5
NBA Betting Total: 215.5
- *Click Here* Check out our Live Betting Odds for this game!
- *Click Here* Check out our Updated Sportsbook Bonuses for today!
- SCROLL DOWN FOR our Clippers Heat Free Pick!
Thursday, December 8th, finds the LA Clippers facing the Miami Heat for the first of two scheduled contests this season. LA will host the second match on January 2nd.
LA is playing the second game of a back-to-back set having lost in overtime 111-116 to the Magic Wednesday while the Heat played Tuesday losing badly (96-116) to the Pistons.
Last season the clubs played twice with the teams splitting the two contests. The Heat holds the all-time record with 37 wins in 67 matches versus the Clippers.
LA Clippers
In their return to the court Kawhi Leonard and Paul George showed immediately in a close game how valuable they are to the Clippers’ success with Leonard hitting the game-winning shot.
The duo combined to shoot 15 of 30 for 35 points. Considering how much time the duo has missed shooting 50 percent was somewhat surprising. Unfortunately, in the very next game, they combined to shoot 7 of 29 for 25 points and lost in overtime to the Magic.
Clearly, the duo will experience some issues with rust and they need reps to gain chemistry with their teammates. That point was punctuated by the 17 turnovers versus the Magic which they scored 29 points off.
Presently, they sit 30th for scoring averaging 107.2 points per game shooting 46.9% from the field and 35.8% from the perimeter ranking 16th and 14th respectively.
Defensively, Clippers’ opponents average 108.8 points per game and shoot 45.4% from the field (both ranking 5th) and 34.4% from the perimeter ranking eighth overall.
The Clippers haven’t submitted their injury report as of posting (or on second and third check backs) but there’s a good chance both Leonard and George since it’s a back-to-back. Norman Powell (groin) and Luke Kennard (calf) presumably are out.
Miami Heat
Heat Culture is a real thing and it’s the main reason why I’ve avoided throwing in the towel on Miami. We’ve come to expect those gutsy wins like the overtime victory in Boston (more of an outlier this season).
Going back to last season the Heat depth was the main reason why they finished atop the East — because the supporting players delivered when injuries occurred. But this season that depth is unreliable.
PJ Tucker’s exit may be impacting the defense but as an undersized big man on an already small team, it shouldn’t have this large of an impact. Perhaps the bigger issue is tied to Tyler Herro becoming a starter removing a primary scorer and playmaker from the reserve unit.
Although Butler has downplayed any concern these two recent losses have to be sending up red flags.
Neither Ja Morant nor Jaren Jackson played in Memphis with Jimmy Butler in the lineup and though he sat against the Pistons for a purposely tanking team to hold the Heat under 100 points on their home court is unacceptable.
Offensively, the Heat score 108.3 points per game (28th rank) shooting 44.9% from the field (27th) and 33.7% from the perimeter (23rd).
Defensively, the Heat allow opponents to score 110.2 points per game ranking ninth. Miami opponents shoot 47.3% from the field (21st) and 35.6% from the perimeter (16th).
Jimmy Butler (knee/rest) and Dewayne Dedmon are questionable. Gabe Vincent (knee) and Omer Yurtseven (ankle) are out.
NBA Betting Trends:
- The Clippers are 5-0 ATS in the last 5 meetings in Miami
- Heat are 3-12-1 ATS in their last 16 home games.
- Over is 4-0 in the Clippers’ last 4 road games.
- Heat are 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 games playing on 1 day’s rest.
Free LA Clippers vs. Miami Heat NBA Prediction:
The teams both enter this match following bad losses in games they should’ve won.
Looking back, it’s notable that Leonard’s first call in the summer of his free agency was to Jimmy Butler. Ironically, both men (and his eventual partner George) have endured copious injury absences in the three seasons since they made their choices to join the Clippers and Heat.
As for this match – each team will be keen to rebound from the embarrassing loss so I’ll take the points and expect a close game but give a slight edge to the rested home squad.
4* Free NBA Betting Pick: Clippers +4.5
If you’re looking for more NBA picks like this LA Clippers vs. Miami Heat matchup we’ll be providing 4* free NBA predictions on the blog during the entire NBA season, and check out our Experts for guaranteed premium & free NBA predictions!
Register here for a FREE NBA Betting Account Now for Daily Free Picks & More Special Offers!
