Miami Heat Los Angeles Lakers Prediction and Betting Tips 5 Dec 2024 - NBA Prediction
NLB Staff
03.12.2024 00:56
Heat vs Lakers Prediction
Looking at the Miami Heat, they come into this game on a bit of a cold streak, while Los Angeles has seemed to prove everyone wrong after a pretty weak stretch in the middle. As this Heat squad lost to Toronto 119-116, Los Angeles beat Utah by one point last time out. This game will take place on December 5th at 6:00 A.M. IST in Kaseya Center of Miami. Below are our key betting tips, vital injuries, top player props, and head-to-head trends to make an accurate scoreline for this game.
Heat vs Lakers Betting Tips & Predictions
1. Miami Heat vs Los Angeles Lakers Moneyline Pick
Seeing that the money line in this game is at -160, it should be taken because Los Angeles is the more skilled all-around squad. With Austin Reaves playing and Cam Reddish running the backcourt, they should outscore plus have more assists than Terry Rozier in addition to Tyler Herro. As Rui Hachimura will have a very similar game as Jimmy Butler due to their aggressive play on both ends, Lebron James should handle Haywood Highsmith in every statistical category. With Anthony Davis creating a mismatch against Bam Adebayo, this -160 money line should be taken for Los Angeles so they can start a new streak.
2. Miami Heat vs Los Angeles Lakers Point Spread Pick
With the spread being at -3.5 for Los Angeles, they should win it because of their strength in scoring plus defense throughout. Knowing that Austin Reaves will lead this team once again, he will be the primary ball handler who can drive in plus kick out passes with ease. Having a great ability to knock down long-range shots as well, he is going to be matched up with Terry Rozier. Someone who has been struggling for Miami on both ends of the floor, Reaves should handle him on defense with great ability to create steals. As Austin Reaves works with quickness, Rozier’s weaker physicality and lack of size will be exposed throughout. Having Tyler Herro at shooting guard might mean a lot, but with the ability of Cam Reddish to defend, he should control Miami’s young piece from having a highly efficient night. As someone who has length over Herro as well, he will cause him to move towards the side and have tougher angles at the basket, while being able to finish at the other end with some ease due to Herro’s lack of defensive presence. Having Rui Hachimura be one of the most explosive rebounders in NBA play, he should handle Jimmy Butler in that department and block when Miami’s forward decides to drive in. Being much bigger than Butler, this piece in Rui Hachimura should have great body control to force bad passes and also move it down the other end for high-percentage three-point looks. With Lebron James being one of the best passers and scorers that should completely outplay Haywood Highsmith, Anthony Davis’s size will be a key factor over Bam Adebayo for rebounds plus inside finishes. All in all, the -3.5 spread for Los Angeles seems like a must-take pick.
3. Miami Heat vs Los Angeles Lakers Over/Under Pick (Total Points)
As the over/under in this game is at 222.5 points, both teams should have very efficient shooting nights with great pieces around. Seeing that this Heat squad is led by a point guard who can cut toward the basket for layups, they have one of the better shooting guards from deep range. With a small forward who is their top all-around scorer, this group’s center continues attacking as a stretch five every night. Meanwhile, the Lakers are led by a quick guard who knows how to finish and pass, while their small forward is a hustle piece that hits threes plus grabs boards for dunks. Having an elite power forward/center combination of two pieces that can rebound and score from anywhere, their PF has been a great passer as well. Looking at this, the total should be way higher than the combined one of 210 points from last time out.
Miami Heat vs Los Angeles Lakers Top Player Props
Haywood Highsmith under 8.5 points at 1.61: As the Heat power continues being a very low volume scorer, it will remain similar in this game against a much more elusive defense. Even though he goes up against a regressing Lebron James on defense, the Lakers PF’s ability to block Highsmith’s main layup game will make the Heat power forward a complete non-factor in this game. Seeing that he averages 6.6 points a night, Highsmith should hit the under during the matchup.
Anthony Davis over 27.5 points at 1.71: Seeing that the Lakers center continues dominating inside with layups and strong finishes, he should have another MVP-like performance. Seeing that he is someone who gets a mismatch against Bam Adebayo, Davis will find dunks with ease while using body control to finish fade-away shots. Someone who averages 28.6 points a night, he should continue building on that average this game.
Miami Heat vs Los Angeles Lakers Injury News & Impact
Miami Heat Injuries: As Nikola Jovic, 7.7 points, is still ruled out with his ankle injury, this unit will miss a depth piece in Josh Richardson, 4.0 points, who can provide at a high rate off the bench.
Los Angeles Lakers Injuries: With Jarred Vanderbilt still ruled out due to his foot injury, and 4.8 rebounds, this group will also have no Jaxson Hayes as a backup to Anthony Davis at center. Knowing that Cam Reddish and D'Angelo Russell will return after their illnesses, Austin Reaves is most likely going to come back after his pelvis injury.
Heat vs Lakers Head-to-Head Trends
Although the Heat won the last two head-to-head matchups, this game will be different because Los Angeles has more firepower. Trying to build a streak of their own, the Lakers will look to go over 100 points for the third time in four matchups after averaging 105 in three previous ones. Being 6-6 against the spread over 12 past head-to-heads, the Lakers will look to take an edge in this matchup.
Betting Insights & Public Trends
Looking at the betting insights and public trends, this Lakers squad is backed by 61.5% of bettors to beat Miami in the game.
Heat vs Lakers Final Prediction
With the Miami Heat entering this game on the wrong side of many previous games, they will be going up against another competition in Los Angeles. As this Lakers squad continues having a transition to be more physical, they will be led by a rising star in Austin Reaves at point guard. Someone who can create assists by finding the open man, his ability to drive in and connect from deep will continue making him a critical combo guard. Having the knack to create deflections, he should control Terry Rozier’s ball-handling game, while also forcing him into more long-range shots than going in for layups. With Rozier not being a great defender either, Austin Reaves's quickness and underrated strength will allow him to work with space throughout. As Cam Reddish continues being a defensive weapon for this Lakers squad, he should have another shutdown game against Tyler Herro because of his length to close out. Even though Herro has been a very efficient three-point shooter, the lack of dribbling skills will hurt him against a defender known for creating traps. As Reddish can provide against a much weaker defender in Herro as well, we will make this matchup very close.
Seeing that Jimmy Butler will be on Rui Hachimura, the Heat forward will have a tough time scoring due to being in a mismatch. As this Lakers small forward continues creating blocks, his size lets him create a rebounding advantage against Butler. Knowing that Jimmy Butler has been struggling to be a consistent scorer for this Heat squad, he will get outrun in transition by Hachimura for threes or great inside looks. With Lebron James being one of the top passers and someone who will dominate Haywood Highsmith inside or out, his ability to get boards will also be a huge advantage in this game. Knowing that Anthony Davis is playing at an MVP-level on offense, his prowess should continue against Bam Adebayo with a height advantage and strength to score over Miami’s center. As this Lakers squad has Dalton Knecht and Max Christie off the bench, the Heat can keep it close if Duncan Robinson provides great outside shooting production.
Our prediction: Los Angeles Lakers win and cover their -3.5 spread, while the score goes over 222.5 points.
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