Heat vs. Raptors, Pacers vs. Warriors Betting Odds – January 22
Carrie Stroup here with your Heat vs. Raptors and Pacers vs. Warriors betting odds for Friday night.
MIAMI HEAT (23-20) at TORONTO RAPTORS (27-15)
Toronto -11, Total: 187
Toronto will be going for its seventh straight victory when it hosts a slumping Miami team on Friday.
The Heat have been miserable over the past few weeks and are coming off of a 106-87 loss against Washington on Wednesday. Miami has lost six of its past seven games and has not scored 100 points since a 111-103 loss to Golden State on Jan. 11. This team is really struggling offensively and will need to start knocking down shots or it will continue to slide in the Eastern Conference standings.
Toronto is coming off of a 115-109 win as three-point home favorites against the Celtics on Wednesday. Toronto has scored 110.3 PPG over the past four contests and has now won six straight and eight of its past 10. The Raptors have shot 50% or better in three of the past four games and if they can shoot like that on Friday then it’s extremely unlikely that the Heat will have the firepower to keep up with them. Miami is, however, 6-3 SU and 5-4 ATS versus Toronto over the past three seasons and 2-1 both SU and ATS in Toronto in that span.
The teams have split wins SU and ATS this season, but both games were at American Airlines Arena. One thing working in the Heat’s favor in this game is that the team is 8-4 ATS versus teams that force at least 14 turnovers per game this season.
The Heat are going to be dealing with a ton of injuries in this game, though. SF Luol Deng (Eye), SG Gerald Green (Knee), PG Beno Udrih (Neck) and SG Dwyane Wade (Shoulder) are all listed as questionable for Miami, and C Hassan Whiteside (Back) is doubtful for the team. The team is also going to be without PG Goran Dragic (Calf) and C Chris Andersen (Knee) indefinitely.
For the Raptors, SF DeMarre Carroll (Knee) is out indefinitely and SF James Johnson (Foot) is questionable for this one.
The Heat have been lousy offensively recently and they are really going to need some other players to step up and score the basketball. PF Chris Bosh (18.9 PPG, 7.7 RPG) is averaging 20.5 PPG over the past two contests and he is doing so on an efficient 13-of-25 shooting from the field and 3-for-6 shooting from the outside. He is averaging 17.0 PPG against the Raptors this season and will be looking forward to going back to the team he started his career with. Bosh has not been the issue for Miami, though.
The team could really use a healthy SG Dwyane Wade (18.1 PPG, 4.6 APG, 4.1 RPG) on the court. He had just two points in 21 minutes against Milwaukee on Tuesday and sat out against Washington on Wednesday. If Wade can come back and play like his usual self then the Heat can likely break out of their slump pretty soon.
SF Luol Deng (9.9 PPG) could also help the team by being a bit more consistent. Deng had 16 points and eight boards against the Wizards on Wednesday, but he has also failed to hit double-digit scoring figures in two of the past five games. It would be wise if Miami would look to get him going early on Friday.
The Raptors have been unbelievable lately and that has a lot to do with the scoring ability of SG DeMar DeRozan (23.1 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 4.2 APG, 1.0 SPG). DeRozan has been on a tear recently, averaging 32.0 PPG over the past two contests. He has played well against Miami as well, averaging 23.5 PPG in the two meetings between the teams. If DeRozan can outplay Dwyane Wade in this one then it’ll be huge for the Raptors. If Wade doesn’t play then DeRozan will likely dominate this one.
PG Kyle Lowry (20.9 PPG, 6.5 APG, 5.0 RPG, 2.3 SPG) has also been outstanding for the Raptors and was recently announced as a starter for the All-Star team. Over the past five games, Lowry is averaging 23.0 PPG, 6.2 APG, 5.6 RPG and 2.6 SPG. He has been on fire in those games, shooting 46.8% from the field and 45.9% from the outside. When he is on, things are much easier on his teammates and Lowry will almost always find his teammates when they get themselves open. With Miami weak at the point guard position, expect Lowry to really take over in this one.
INDIANA PACERS (23-19) at GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (39-4)
Golden State -13, Total: 216.5
The Warriors will be going for their third straight victory when they host the Pacers Friday night. <P>
The Pacers went into Phoenix on Tuesday and defeated the Suns 97-94 as 5.5-point road favorites. Indiana had lost its previous three games and has now lost each of its past four ATS. One thing this team is really not doing well is rebounding. The Pacers have been outrebounded in three straight games and five of the past six. They will need to be a lot better on the glass, as they can’t afford to give the Warriors second chances on Friday.
The Warriors happen to be entering this game after an two very impressive victories. Golden State went into Cleveland on Monday and defeated the Cavaliers 132-98 as a 3.5-point road underdog and followed it up with a 125-94 win as a six-point favorite in Chicago on Wednesday.
These teams met earlier in the season and Golden State defeated Indiana 131-123 as a 5.5-point favorite at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The Warriors are 3-2 SU and ATS when facing the Pacers over the past three seasons.
There are trends that work in both directions in this game, as Indiana is 8-1 ATS when playing with two days rest this season and Golden State is 15-2 ATS after two straight blowout wins by 15 points or more over the past two seasons.
If the Pacers are going to come away with a victory at Oracle Arena then SF Paul George (23.7 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 4.0 APG, 2.0 SPG) will need to be at the top of his game. George has hit something of a wall recently, as he is averaging just 19.0 PPG over the past two contests and is shooting just 40.0% from the field over the past five. He will need to knock down shots and play well on both ends of the floor in this game, and it should not be a problem for him. He had 33 points the last time he faced this Golden State team and could be in for more of the same on Friday.
SG Monta Ellis (13.7 PPG, 5.0 APG, 2.8 RPG, 1.7 SPG) has been playing well for the Pacers, averaging 22.0 PPG over the past two contests. He really struggled against the Warriors in the last meeting, though, scoring just nine points. Indiana needs him to catch fire in the building he once called home on Friday.
Another guy that will be important in this one is C Myles Turner (7.4 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 1.1 BPG), who is averaging 20.0 PPG over the past two contests. Mahinmi is banged up and Turner is really making the most of his minutes. He is an efficient 18-for-24 from the field over the past two games and will need to protect the rim when he is on the court in this one.
The Warriors are rolling again and they will now look to defeat the Pacers for the second time this season. PG Steph Curry (29.9 PPG, 6.5 APG, 5.3 RPG, 2.1 SPG) has been excellent for Golden State recently, averaging 32.4 PPG, 6.4 APG, 6.0 RPG and 2.2 SPG over the past five games. Curry is shooting 46.9% from the outside on 12.8 attempts per game in that span and should be able to take over this game against a Pacers team that is playing without Hill. He had 29 points, 10 assists and seven boards against the Pacers in the last meeting between the two and should be in for an even bigger game this time around.
SG Klay Thompson (20.6 PPG) was the one that really went off against Indiana, though. Thompson had 39 points, seven boards and six assists in 34 minutes against the Pacers in the last meeting. His size really gave the Pacers guards trouble and the Warriors will be looking to go to him often on Friday.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
