Free NBA Pick: Raptors vs. Heat NBA Odds
Looking for Toronto Raptors vs. Miami Heat free NBA picks & NBA odds? NBA betting sees the Raptors taking on the Heat on Saturday, October 22nd, 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 Raptors-Heat matchup.
2022 NBA Handicapping
(1-1) Toronto Raptors vs. Miami Heat (0-2)
Date: Saturday, October 22nd
Time: 8:00 PM EST
Venue: FTX Arena, Miami, Florida
NBA Moneyline Odds: Raptors +110 | Heat -150 (Bet Now!) Moneyline is off
NBA Betting Odds: Heat -2.5
NBA Betting Total: 215.5
Saturday, October 22nd, finds the Toronto Raptors facing the Miami Heat for the first time this season on the front side of two consecutive games in Miami.
Both teams played and lost on Friday as Toronto battled the Nets (105-109) losing down the stretch while the Heat lost (104-111) to the Celtics.
Last season the clubs played four times splitting the season series. All four games were close battles decided by five points or less including a triple-overtime game the Raptors won in Miami. The Heat holds the all-time record with 58 wins in 96 matches versus the Raptors.
Toronto Raptors
Nick Nurse wasn’t happy about the whistle after the game in Brooklyn. A flop by Marcus Morris wiped away two Pascal Siakam points, a bad call on Fred VanVleet on a clean block sent Kevin Durant to the line to put the game away, and rookie Christian Koloko got called for three personal fouls on three clean blocks.
Such is the life of a Raptors team who simply doesn’t have a player of the ilk of KD or Kyrie Irving or the market size of New York or LA to get those distinct benefit calls.
Granted, if Siakam keeps playing like he’s started the season that dynamic may change. Siakam followed up his double-double opening match with a triple-double in Brooklyn (37 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists).
In truth, the Raptors still could’ve won this game if they had kept their focus or not made some silly mistakes. Precious Achiuwa is still finding his offense and Gary Trent Jr. has been hit and miss but it still feels like this squad is going to be in the mix of the home-court challengers.
Like the opener, all five starters registered double-figure scores and once again the Raptors shot the 3-ball well (11 of 28 for 39.3%).
Uncharacteristically they lost the offensive glass (13 to 8) battle although they did win the paint (46-38), fast break scoring (18-9), and points scored off turnovers (24-17).
The game was lost at the line getting with Toronto taking 11 fewer free throws and a lack of defensive execution to adjust to the whistle.
Chris Boucher and Otto Porter Jr. remained out with hamstring injuries and are unlikely to play in Miami.
Miami Heat
I’m in a bit of shock the Heat lost again – – mostly because they were facing the Celtics who ended their title hopes last season.
That Boston led the majority of the game speaks to the fact perhaps the Heat aren’t where they need to be to start the season. Or perhaps the move to add Tyler Herro to the starting group coupled with the loss of PJ Tucker is taking a toll (at least initially).
What is clear – is the fact the Heat haven’t won yet likely means the Raptors are about to get snake bitten in back-to-back games in Miami.
In the loss to the Celtics Tyler Herro led the team with 25 points. Bam Adebayo offered 19 points on 8 of 11 shooting plus eight rebounds, five assists, and two steals, but also had five turnovers.
Vets Jimmy Butler (18 points, seven rebounds, five assists, a steal) and Kyle Lowry (17 points, four rebounds, six assists, three steals, a block) filled up the stat sheet and all three of the latter trio looked better than their opening match against the Bulls.
NBA Betting Trends:
- The Raptors are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games playing on 0 days rest.
- The Heat are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 home games.
- Under is 5-1 in Raptors last 6 overall.
Free Toronto Raptors vs. Miami Heat NBA Prediction:
This season the NBA has elected to schedule consecutive games (similar to MLB series) in the same city. This is the first one for the Raptors who’ll play in Miami again on Monday.
In the 15 years, Erik Spoelstra has coached the Heat this is the first time they’ve started 0-2 under his leadership. As I said, the Raptors better be prepared to get hit hard from the tip because Heat Culture is a real thing.
That said, I don’t think either team will sweep this two-game set which is the flaw in this scheduling change.
It’s much more difficult for teams to find the motivation to sweep matches and assuming the refs are also the same for both matches they’re likely to balance the whistle between games.
Notably, the Raptors performed better in second games of back-to-back sets (11-6) compared to the Heat (5-9) last season, but I think logging their first ‘W’ of the season will take precedent for Spo’s crew.
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