Free NBA Pick: Heat vs. Suns NBA Odds
Looking for Miami Heat vs. Phoenix Suns free NBA picks & NBA odds? NBA betting sees the Heat taking on the Suns on Saturday, January 8th, 2021 at the Footprint Center. 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 Suns matchup.
2021 NBA Handicapping
(24-15) Miami Heat vs. Phoenix Suns (30-8)
Date: Saturday, January 8th
Time: 9:00 PM EST
Venue: Footprint Center, Phoenix, Arizona
NBA Moneyline Odds: Heat +372 | Suns -400 (Bet Now!)
NBA Betting Odds: Suns +8.5
NBA Betting Total: 216.5
Saturday, January 8th, finds the Miami Heat playing the Phoenix Suns for the first time this season. The second meeting will occur on March 9th in Miami.
Phoenix last played Thursday in a 106-89 winning effort versus the Clippers while the Heat played Wednesday defeating the Blazers 115-109.
Last season, the squads met twice with Phoenix taking both contests. The Suns hold the all-time record having bested the Heat in 36 of their 65 matches.
Miami Heat
With Jimmy Butler sidelined and Kyle Lowry getting ejected (on a ridiculously weak call) it meant other Heat players needed to step up. The player who seized the moment was Max Strus scoring 25 points hitting 7 of 13 deep balls.
It was his first game back from quarantine making the performance all the more impressive. PJ Tucker (14 points, 10 rebounds) was also back and along with Omer Yurtseven (14 points, 16 rebounds) delivered double-doubles.
Duncan Robinson returned appearing in a reserve role alongside Tyler Herro delivering 12 and 16 points respectively while Caleb Martin chipped in 11 points.
Although Lowry played only 16 minutes he dished nine dimes along with seven points, and two rebounds.
Jimmy Butler (ankle) is questionable to play Saturday while the trio of Heat players in protocols (Udonis Haslem, Gabe Vincent, and Marcus Garrett), as well as KZ Okpala (wrist), were all downgraded to out Saturday.
Dewayne Dedmon (knee), Markieff Morris (neck), Victor Oladipo (knee), and Bam Adebayo (thumb) are out indefinitely.
Phoenix Suns
The combination of the Warriors losing without Steph Curry and Draymond Green in the lineup and the Suns winning in spite of being shorthanded pushed Phoenix back to the top of the West’s ladder.
Chris Paul delivered a triple-double of 14 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists while Devin Booker registered a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds but shot an inefficient 5 of 22.
Jalen Smith continued to impress with his own double-double of 19 points and 14 rebounds (8 OR) giving the front office food for thought on electing not to pick up his third-year option at season start. Cameron Johnson led the Suns in scoring with 24 points.
Deandre Ayton missed his sixth game but is expected to play versus Miami. Suns in protocol – Jae Crowder, Abdel Nader, Landry Shamet and JaVale McGee are all questionable for Saturday.
Frank Kaminsky (knee) and Dario Saric (knee) are out indefinitely.
NBA Betting Trends:
- The teams are 5-5 in the last 10 head to head
- The teams are 5-5 ATS in their last 10 meetings
- Over Under is 6-4 in the teams last 10 head to head matchups
- The Heat are 6-2 SU in their last 8 games.
- The Suns are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games.
- The total has gone OVER in 5 of Miami’s last 5 games.
- The total has gone OVER in 8 of Phoenix’s last 12 games.
Free Miami Heat vs. Phoenix Suns NBA Prediction:
This matchup would be so much more intriguing with fully healthy rosters with Miami and Phoenix both having deep rosters. Unfortunately, the Heat limp into this match likely missing a larger contingent of players and specifically core contributors.
Lowry and Paul have served up some entertaining matches facing each other over the years so keep an eye on each of them trying to set the tone early. If Butler returns he’ll be tasked with limiting Booker whereas his absence gives the Suns a huge advantage.
That said, the Heat possess an 8-3 record versus home court seeds in each conference and have compiled many of those victories shorthanded. So I like the Heat to keep it closer than 8.5 points and while I’m taking Phoenix to win that’s more about the uncertainty of Butler’s participation.
4* Free NBA Betting Pick: Heat +8.5
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