Knicks-Heat Spread – February 23
Carrie Stroup here with your Knicks-Heat spread for February 23 and it shouldn’t surprise too many people that we have seen a shift from Miami -10.5 to -9.5 at Sportsbook.com, which has all the latest NBA betting odds updated around the clock here.
Sportsbook.com Line & Total: Miami -9.5 & 202
Opening Line & Total: Heat -10.5 & 199
The Knicks will get their toughest test of the Jeremy Lin Era when they visit sizzling-hot Miami (15-2 in past 17 games) on Thursday night.
New York is still trying to find the right chemistry with Lin and Carmelo Anthony, as this will be their third game together since Anthony returned from a groin injury. New York looked flat against the Nets in a loss on Monday, but bounced back to beat the shorthanded Hawks on Wednesday. They’ve covered all three times they’ve visited South Beach since last season, including their matchup one month ago. But they also played a home game against the Hawks Wednesday night, making this a daunting back-to-back. The Heat are well-rested after having Wednesday off and are 20-3 SU and 13-10 ATS with at least one day of rest.
The Heat covered in the first six games of their SU win streak before coming up short of a 13.5-point spread in a 12-point win over Sacramento on Tuesday. LeBron James (27.6 PPG on 55% FG, 8.1 RPG, 6.8 APG) is averaging 24.3 PPG on 57% FG, 7.4 RPG and 6.6 APG despite playing only 32.7 MPG because of the lopsided nature of their wins during the seven-game streak. Dwyane Wade (22.4 PPG) has added 23.4 PPG on 59% shooting over 27.4 MPG over the same span. Wade has averaged 28.0 PPG against the Knicks over the past two seasons, while James has added 26.4 PPG, 9.4 RPG and 7.0 APG.
The Knicks bounced back from a home loss to the Nets by beating the Hawks handily at home on Wednesday night, 99-82. Atlanta was without its two All-Stars, SG Joe Johnson and C Al Horford, making them yet another low-quality opponent. The Knicks’ only three road games with Lin in the starting lineup were at Washington (a 14-point win), Minnesota (two points) and Toronto (three).
But the Knicks were able to keep their key players’ minutes in check on Wednesday—no one played more than 34 minutes—with five players scoring in double digits. Lin (14.8 PPG, 5.9 APG) is averaging 23.8 PPG and 9.4 APG over 10 games since moving into the starting lineup. But Anthony (21.5 PPG on 39.9% shooting) is averaging just 13.0 PPG in two games playing alongside him, and PF Amar’e Stoudemire (17.6 PPG, 8.1 RPG) is averaging 15.5 PPG on 43.8% shooting from the field in six games with Lin.
When these teams met on Jan. 27, neither Lin nor Anthony played, Lin because of a coach’s decision and Anthony because of a wrist injury.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
