Free NBA Pick: Lakers vs. Heat NBA Odds
Looking for Los Angeles Lakers vs. Miami Heat free NBA picks & NBA odds? NBA betting sees the Lakers taking on the Heat on Thursday, April 8th, 2021 at American Airlines 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 Lakers Heat matchup.
2021 NBA Handicapping
(32-19) Los Angeles Lakers vs. Miami Heat (26-25)
Date: Thursday, April 8th
Time: 7:30 PM EST
Venue: American Airlines Arena, Miami, Florida
NBA Moneyline Odds: Lakers +313 | Heat -372
NBA Betting Odds: Heat -8.5
NBA Betting Total: O/U 204.5
On Thursday, April 8th, the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat play for the second time this season. In the first match on February 20th, the Heat won a defensive battle 96-94.
The Lakers hold the all-time record between the clubs with 37 wins in 65 meetings. Last season, the teams played twice with the Lakers winning both contests.
Los Angeles Lakers
Without their superstars and decimated by injury the Lakers have struggled as they continue to fall down the ladder. The Lakers managed to play .500 ball missing Anthony Davis for 12 games amassing a 6-6 record.
But when LeBron James went down with a high ankle sprain the next 10 games found LA posting a 4-6 record.
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.That equates to a 10-12 record which isn’t terrible considering the circumstances. Davis is expected to return shortly but the big question in La-La land now is whether they can stay out of the play-in tournament while they navigate these injuries.
When Davis went down mid-February the Lakers boasted a 21-7 record and held the second seed in the West. Entering this match they are now in fifth with the Blazers 1.5 games back in sixth and the Mavericks reside 3.0 games back.
That’s significant given the road trip continues through Miami, Brooklyn, New York, and Charlotte. Only Charlotte looks like a definite win in this group.
Factor in Portland has an easier schedule segment coming up and the Mavericks are on a five-game winning streak and charging. It’s conceivable both the Blazers and Mavs could shoot past the Lakers within these next four games.
The first tough test comes tonight versus the Heat who already have the earlier win in LA with LeBron playing. They’ll have to win without Davis or James as well as Andre Drummond (toe) and Jared Dudley (knee).
Miami Heat
A four-game winning streak came to an end versus the young Memphis Grizzlies crew. At least the Heat finally have most of their core unit back healthy.
One notable of head coach Erik Spoelstra’s rotations is since Victor Oladipo has entered the equation the party most affected is Kendrick Nunn who hasn’t played in five games, partially due to injury (two games) but also mixed in with Coaches Decision – Did Not Play (CD DNP) for three of those contests.
While the Heat seeks to integrate Oladipo it’s resulting in a bolstered offense — averaging 114.3 points per game it’s also led to a regression defensively averaging 111.3 points per game. The two games prior to Oladipo playing the Heat held their opponents to 88 and 87 points respectively.
Suffice to say there is work to do to find a balance on both sides of the court. In the loss to the Grizzlies as per typical Jimmy Butler led the way with 28 points while Bam Adebayo delivered a triple-double of 18 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists.
Victor Oladipo scored 16 points but was a minus -18 which punctuates the defensive issues.
KZ Okpala (protocols) remain out.
NBA Betting Trends:
- The Lakers are 7-3 in the teams’ last 10 meetings.
- The Heat are 7-3 ATS in the last 10 meetings between these clubs
- The teams are 3-7 in the over/under in their last 10 meetings.
Free Los Angeles Lakers vs. Miami Heat NBA Prediction:
Although the Lakers defense has essentially maintained without their superstars they’ll be hardpressed to stop the versatility of the Heat offense.
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