Lakers vs. Heat Betting Line – January 23
Carrie Stroup here with your Lakers vs. Heat betting line for January 3, 2014. Be sure to claim your FREE $100 BET at Sportsbook.com here and remember you can wager on every play of this game right up to the final minute with LIVE IN-PLAY BETTING.
LOS ANGELES LAKERS (16-26) at MIAMI HEAT (30-12)
Sportsbook.ag Line & Total: Miami -11 & 209
The double-digit underdog Lakers try to get a rare victory in South Beach on Thursday night when they visit the Heat.
Los Angeles has lost 13 of its past 16 games SU, but has covered in five straight contests by pumping in 110.2 PPG on 48% FG. But the Lakers have also allowed 110.6 PPG on 45% FG during this stretch, 105.8 PPG for the season (2nd-worst in league) and have been the worst rebounding team in the NBA this season with a minus-5.3 RPG margin. Although Miami is also a poor rebounding team at minus-4.0 RPG (4th-worst in NBA) with a league-low 36.5 RPG, the team plays much better defense, allowing only 98.5 PPG (8th in NBA). The Heat also have a superior offense at 104.0 PPG (8th in league), compared to the Lakers scoring 100.6 PPG (16th in NBA), and enters this game having won three of their past four contests. Miami also owns this series, with its 101-95 Christmas Day win making the team 7-1 SU (6-2 ATS) in the past eight meetings with Los Angeles. Miami is also 8-1 SU (7-2 ATS) in the past nine home meetings with L.A., winning and covering five straight times. The Lakers have been a winning road wager this season at 12-10-1 ATS (8-15 SU), and are 13-5 ATS after playing four consecutive games as an underdog this season. But although the Heat are 7-13 ATS (17-3 SU) at home this season, they are 44-28 ATS after playing a home game over the past two seasons. PF Pau Gasol (toe) is probable for the Lakers, who are still missing five guards who are out indefinitely, while the Heat will be without star SG Dwyane Wade (knee) for the fourth straight game.
The Lakers have struggled recently, but one position they have been getting consistent production from is the point guard spot. PG Kendall Marshall (10.1 PPG, 9.1 APG) has been a huge spark for this team after being called up from the D-League due to numerous injuries. Over the past six games, Marshall is averaging a double-double of 11.3 PPG and 12.0 APG, with only 3.3 TOPG (3.6 Ast/TO ratio). Since returning from a one-game suspension, SF Nick Young (17.1 PPG, 36% threes) has exploded for 30.0 PPG (50% FG, 8-of-13 threes) over the past two games. Young led the Lakers in scoring in the first meeting with Miami as he had 20 points (4-of-7 threes) off the bench in 32 minutes. PF Pau Gasol (16.4 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 1.5 BPG) had 13 points and 13 rebounds in that first meeting, and averages 16.0 PPG and 8.8 RPG in 24 career games versus the Heat. Despite dealing with a sore toe, Gasol has scored at least 20 points in each of the past five contests, averaging a hefty 22.0 PPG and 12.4 RPG during this stretch. SG Jodie Meeks (14.0 PPG, 39% threes) had 17 points in the Christmas day meeting with Miami, and is averaging 16.8 PPG (50% FG) over the past five games. His three-point shooting (44% in past five games) will be needed if the Lakers are going to pull off this upset. Rookie PF Ryan Kelly (5.8 PPG, 2.8 RPG) has started the past two games for the Lakers, and delivered with 16.7 PPG (54% FG, 4-of-10 threes) and 5.3 RPG in his past three contests. Kelly is yet another player with the three-point shooting ability to open up this Mike D’Antoni offense that makes 9.2 threes per game (5th in NBA) on a strong 36.8% clip (9th in league).
The Heat have had their stretches of rough play lately, but they have now gotten back on track despite playing without SG Dwyane Wade (18.9 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 4.7 APG) as he rests a sore knee. PF Chris Bosh (16.3 PPG, 6.7 RPG) has really stepped up his offense with Wade out, averaging 20.7 PPG on 55% FG (7-of-15 threes) in the three games Wade has missed. Bosh had 23 points and 11 rebounds in the first meeting between these two teams and should benefit from a small Lakers frontcourt yet again on Thursday. For his career, he has pumped in 17.4 PPG and 10.2 RPG in 19 career meetings with the Lakers. SF LeBron James (26.2 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 6.5 APG, 1.3 SPG) had just 19 points, eight rebounds and four assists in the Christmas day victory over L.A., but is still averaging 27.7 PPG, 7.6 RPG and 7.0 APG in 21 career games against the Lakers. James has also been on a tear recently, averaging 29.9 PPG (56% FG), 6.1 RPG and 6.0 APG over the past nine games. SG Ray Allen (9.4 PPG) has started in the place of Dwyane Wade, and in the three games Wade has missed, Allen is averaging 11.0 PPG on a blistering 57% FG (46% threes) and 6.7 RPG. With Wade out again, Allen should have plenty of good looks against the porous Lakers defense, and he must connect on a few of them to have Miami keep up with the high-scoring Los Angeles bunch.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
