Free NBA Pick: Heat vs. Cavaliers NBA Odds
Looking for Miami Heat vs. Cleveland Cavaliers free NBA picks & NBA Odds? NBA betting sees the Heat taking on the Cavaliers on Monday, December 13th at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland, Ohio. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all NBA basketball matchups so stay tuned for more FREE daily NBA hoops predictions like this Heat Cavaliers matchup.
2021 NBA Handicapping
(16-11) Miami Heat vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (16-12)
Date: Monday, December 13th
Time: 7:00 PM (ET)
Venue: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse Cleveland, Cleveland, Ohio
NBA Moneyline Odds: Heat +160 | Cavaliers -182 (Bet Now!)
NBA Betting Odds: Cavaliers -4.5
NBA Betting Total: 206.5
Monday, December 13th the Miami Heat face the Cleveland Cavaliers for the second meeting this season. Cleveland won 111-85 on December 1st although both Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo were out.
Both teams last played on Saturday with the undermanned Heat crushing the equally shorthanded Bulls 118-92 while the Cavaliers bested the Kings 117-103.
Last season the teams played three times with the Heat sweeping the regular-season series. The Heat holds the all-time record having bested the Cavaliers in 73 of their 120 matches.
Miami Heat
The match on Saturday was odd given how many players on both teams were sidelined. While the Bulls have seven players out due to COVID (including some just signed due to the hardship exception) the Heat has just one – Caleb Martin.
That said, Martin just scored a career-best 28 points to help Miami beat the Bucks so the timing wasn’t ideal.
Enter Kyle Lowry – the veteran bulldog point guard Miami obtained this offseason. I’m thoroughly entertained by those just discovering why fans North of the border refer to him as the GROT (greatest Raptor of all-time).
While he parallels Chris Paul as a leader, is a great playmaker, lethal 3-point shooter, a master of the pick and roll and gritty defender none of those are his best quality. Rather, his sense of the moment is unlike anyone in the NBA.
Whether it’s drawing a timely charge, knowing precisely when a 3-pointer will be the dagger in the heart of the competition or getting a bucket to stop what could become a negative momentum shift he reads every situation to a T.
Frankly, I’d call it a skill, because it’s one thing to have the instinct to recognize the situation but quite another to do something about it so maybe it’s a combination of instinct and killer – whatever you want to call it he has it.
Knowing the Bulls were shorthanded but still having four of their top five guys he sensed the need to bury them early and orchestrated that happening. Cue 12 first half assists (as many as the Bulls collectively had).
Lowry finished with 14 (didn’t play 4Q) to go along with his 16 points and was joined by Dewayne Dedmon also collecting a double-double (20 points, 14 rebounds).
Duncan Robinson led the scoring (26) while Tyler Herro (17), and KZ Okpala (10) scored in double-figures.
Butler (tailbone), Adebayo (thumb), Martin (COVID), Markieff Morris (neck) are all out.
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavaliers have won seven of their last nine and moved up to the fifth seed in the East. Brimming with confidence, possessing a predominantly healthy roster (other than Collin Sexton) they are poised to make a run up the East’s ladder.
Timing and luck always play a factor in a team’s season so with the Bulls and Heat both dealing with injuries or COVID situations the Cavaliers could capitalize. Cleveland is a half game back of Miami and 1.5 back of both the Bulls and Bucks.
A night after Scottie Barnes pulled down 15 rebounds (12 points, three assists, two steals, two blocks) his rookie rival Evan Mobley matched him with his own 15 rebounds, 15 points double-double plus two assists and a block (best RoY battle in years).
His front court partner Jarrett Allen also collected the dub-dub (19 points, 11 rebounds) while Isaac Okoro led the Cavs scoring (20 points). Cedi Osman (18), Darius Garland (16), Ricky Rubio (15), and Kevin Love (11) were part of the seven Cavs who scored in double-digits.
NBA Betting Trends:
- The Heat are 8-2 in the last 10 head to head
- The Heat are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 meetings.
- Over Under is 7-3 in the teams last 10 head to head matchups
- The Cavaliers are 10-0 ATS in their last 10 games.
- The Cavaliers are 7-2 SU in their last 9 games
Free Miami Heat vs. Cleveland Cavaliers NBA Prediction
Given the injuries expect Dewayne Dedmon and KZ Okpala to get ample minutes. The perimeter will also be key as Miami ranks seventh in 3-point shooting (36.1%) but the Cavaliers rank fifth (33.0%) in perimeter defense.
If the teams play to their identity it favors Cleveland, but a win would propel them ahead of Miami in the standings and don’t think that’s a point lost on Erik Spoelstra (or Lowry).
I’m guessing this ends up being a close battle that gets decided by a basket.
4* Free NBA Betting Pick: Heat +4.5
If you’re looking for more NBA picks like this Miami Heat vs. Cleveland Cavaliers matchup, we’ll be providing 4* free NBA predictions on the blog during the entire 2021 NBA season, and check out our Experts for guaranteed premium & free NBA picks!
Register here for a FREE NBABetting Account Now for Daily Free Picks & More Special Offers!