Heat vs. Cavs Line at Miami -10
The Heat vs. Cavs line was listed at Miami -10. Get all the latest NBA betting lines at Sportsbook.com and receive up to $250 in FREE CASH based on an initial deposit.
Sportsbook.com Line & Total: Miami -10 & 198.5
Opening Line & Total: Heat -9.5 & 198
LeBron James returns to Cleveland for the first time this season as Miami visits the Cavs on Friday night.
It’s been a heck of a road trip so far for Miami. After dropping the first game in Orlando, they’ve reeled off four wins in a row, SU and ATS, each by 15 points or more. This team is clearly gelling with Dwyane Wade finally back at 100%. The Heat beat the Cavs by 16 at home 10 days ago when they were in a relative funk (the game was sandwiched between a six-point home win over Toronto and the Orlando loss).
The Cavs have done a solid job through the first four games of their homestand, going 2-2 SU and 2-1-1 ATS despite being without PG Kyrie Irving (18.2 PPG on 49.8% shooting) for the first three of those games. With Irving back in the lineup on Wednesday, Cleveland beat the Pacers handily, 98-87, in a game that was never really in doubt. Irving led the way with 22 points on 8-for-12 FG (and 3-for-5 from three) in the win.
After losing Anderson Varejao to a broken wrist, they lost handily to Philadelphia on Saturday but bounced back with a solid win over Indiana on Wednesday. C Semih Erden, Varejao’s replacement, was shut out over 14 minutes in the Philadelphia loss, but bounced back with 18 points and eight rebounds in the win over Indiana.
The Heat have been simply unstoppable since coming to the Midwest. Since the Orlando loss they’re winning games by an average score of 108.0 to 90.5, and they’re shooting 49.2% from the field while holding opponents to 39.8% FG. James (28.0 PPG on 54.5% FG, 8.2 RPG, 6.8 APG) is averaging 24.8 PPG on 53.8% FG, 8.0 RPG and 6.3 APG over only 32.3 minutes per game during that span. Wade (21.9 PPG) has added 21.3 PPG on 55.2% shooting in just 26.8 MPG. The limited minutes were because of a three-games-in-three-nights stretch earlier in the week, but after two nights off, the Heat stars should be ready to go 40 minutes.
Obviously, all eyes will be on James, who is playing his third career game as an opponent in Cleveland. He torched the Cavs twice last year, going for 38 points in just 30 minutes in a blowout win in December 2010, then recording a triple-double (27 points, 10 rebounds, 12 assists) in his return last March. However, Miami dropped that second game, 107-91 at home.
NW ORLEANS HORNETS (6-23) at NEW YORK KNICKS (15-15)
Sportsbook.com Line: New York -10 & 184
Opening Line & Total: Knicks -9.5 & 184.5
The legend of Jeremy Lin continues as the Knicks host another cupcake opponent when New Orleans visits on Friday night.
Since Lin stepped in as their primary point guard two weeks ago, the Knicks are 7-0 SU and 5-1-1 ATS. However, aside from a win over the Lakers (who had played an overtime game in Boston the previous night), the Knicks haven’t really had a challenge during that span. The Hornets actually might be their toughest matchup of the Lin era, as they play an ugly, slow-down style that could keep this game within reach. The inevitable return of SF Carmelo Anthony, who hasn’t played alongside Lin and prefers frequent isolation plays, could complicate things for New York in the short term. Despite losing C Emeka Okafor, the Hornets are coming off back-to-back SU wins for the first time since their first two games of the season, and they’re 7-5 ATS (3-9 SU) away from home this year.
After having to pull out a win late in Toronto, the Knicks had little trouble disposing of the Kings at home on Wednesday. Lin (12.7 PPG), who is averaging 24.4 PPG on 51.2% shooting and 9.1 APG during his magical run, was more of a distributor in that game, handing out 13 assists while scoring 10 points on only six field goal attempts. Lin’s Achilles heel has been turnovers, as he’s averaging 5.3 per game during this seven-game stretch.
PF Amar’e Stoudemire (18.0 PPG, 8.0 RPG) is still figuring things out in the Lin Era, as he’s averaging 16.0 PPG on just 39.4% shooting in his first two games back in the lineup since the death of his brother. Anthony (22.3 PPG, 39.9% shooting from the field) has really only been effective as an isolation player throughout his career. While he insists otherwise, he and Lin seem unlikely to mesh.
The Hornets have lost Okafor (9.9 PPG, 7.9 RPG) to a knee injury, and PG Jarrett Jack (15.2 PPG, 6.7 APG) has missed six of the past seven games because of a sore knee. But they held off the Jazz at home on Monday, then they pulled off an upset Wednesday in Milwaukee. C Chris Kaman (10.9 PPG, 7.5 RPG), benched for his lethargic defense for a good chunk of the season, has been a revelation for the scoring-starved Hornets. In those two wins, he averaged 22.5 PPG and 11.5 RPG. But the best argument for a New Orleans cover is that they play the slowest tempo in the NBA. That methodical style will leave less margin for error than usual for the Knicks.
DALLAS MAVERICKS (19-11) at PHILADELPHIA 76ERS (20-10)
Sportsbook.com Line: Philadelphia -3 & 179.5
Opening Line & Total: 76ers -3 & 180.5
The red-hot Mavericks look to extend their win streak to six games when they visit Philadelphia on Friday night.
Dallas will be short-handed for this matchup as a trio of guards -- Jason Terry (quadriceps), Delonte West (finger) and Rodrigue Beaubois (death in family) -- will be sidelined Friday night. These three backcourt players contribute a combined 30.4 PPG and 9.5 APG. This is not good news considering how well the 76ers play defense at Wells Fargo Center, allowing just 83.6 PPG on 41% FG. This commitment on the defensive end has led to a strong 12-6 ATS mark at home.
Dallas is 8-5 ATS on the road, including 5-1 ATS as a road underdog this season. Dirk Nowitzki is finally looking healthy, as he is averaging 23.7 PPG on 51% FG in his past seven games. But the Sixers have done a pretty good job defending him in the past five seasons, limiting Nowitzki to 40% FG (5-for-21 threes) in these 10 meetings. But Nowitzki will benefit from the absence of Philly’s best interior defender, C Spencer Hawes (8.3 RPG, 1.5 BPG), who is out indefinitely with an Achilles injury. Both SG Vince Carter (12.2 PPG, 47% FG in past five games) and SF Shawn Marion (15.3 PPG, 7.7 RPG in past three games) will have to continue their strong play with the depleted Dallas backcourt.
The 76ers have gone 13 straight games without reaching 100 points, but they have really valued the basketball. Their 10.5 turnovers per game are the lowest in NBA history for a single season. Philadelphia is arguably the deepest team in the league with eight players scoring at least 8.9 PPG this season. Andre Iguodala is the team’s best player, with 12.5 PPG, 6.5 RPG and 5.3 APG this season. But he has shot terribly over his past four games (36.8% FG), and makes just 39.7% FG in 14 career meetings with Dallas. Reserve PG Lou Williams is Philly’s top scorer at 16.1 PPG, and he has played outstanding in the past three contests (21.0 PPG, 5.3 APG). He was just 2-of-11 from the field in two meetings with Dallas last year though.
PHOENIX SUNS (12-18) at LOS ANGELES LAKERS (17-12)
Sportsbook.com Line & Total: Los Angeles -8 & 185.5
Opening Line & Total: Lakers -8/5 & 185.5
The Lakers seek their fourth straight home win when they invite the Suns for a visit on Friday night. Phoenix has lost nine of its past 10 trips to Staples Center.
Phoenix is in a bit of a funk with three straight losses, but the Suns usually get up for L.A., going 6-3 ATS in the past nine meetings. The Lakers are the best defensive team in the West, but they have nobody to contain Steve Nash. The Phoenix star is shooting 60% from the floor with 12.9 APG in his past seven games. And the Lakers struggle in the heavy favorite role, as they are 5-13 ATS (28%) in the past 18 instances they were giving at least eight points.
The Suns played very well against Atlanta on Wednesday, making 54% of their shots and winning the rebounding battle 38-33 in a 101-99 loss. Nash led the way with 22 points and 16 assists, as all five starters scored in double figures. Grant Hill finished with 18 points on 8-of-11 shooting, while Channing Frye (9.0 PPG, 5.5 RPG) had a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Hill made just 1-of-12 shots in last month’s 99-83 loss to the Lakers. Marcin Gortat (15.2 PPG, 10.1 RPG) was held to 13 points and six rebounds against the Hawks, making him 9-of-25 FG in his past two games, but he produced 16 points and 12 boards in the most recent meeting with the Lakers. His work on the glass will be key in combating L.A.’s huge frontcourt that leads the NBA with 45.3 RPG and out-rebounded the Suns 49-35 in January.
The Lakers are 12-2 SU (9-5 ATS) at home this season, allowing a paltry 84.7 PPG. Their defense was stellar again on Tuesday, holding the Hawks to 78 points on 34% FG. Pau Gasol (20 points, 13 rebounds) and Andrew Bynum (15 points, 15 rebounds) were the stars in that win. Gasol, who has been the subject of trade rumors, has not let the chatter affect his play. He now has seven straight double-doubles with 18.6 PPG and 14.0 RPG during this stretch. Kobe Bryant has been off the mark this month (37% FG, 32% 3-pt FG), including a season-low 10 points on 5-of-18 FG in Tuesday’s win. But Bryant was on fire when he last faced the Suns on Jan. 10, pumping in a season-high 48 points (18-of-31 FG) in the victory. Since the 2005-06 season, Bryant is averaging 31.8 PPG in 24 games versus Phoenix.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
