New York Knicks at Miami Heat Free NBA Picks & Odds
by Tony Sink - 4/5/2014
Sunday, April 6, 1:00 PM on ABC
AmericanAirlines Arena, Miami, Florida
For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here
Thanks to a straight-up meltdown by the Atlanta Hawks the Knicks have found themselves in the playoff hunt currently sitting in the 8th seed. Miami has taken advantage of a skid by Indiana to overtake the top seed in the East hoping for home court until the NBA Finals. Both the Pacers and Hawks are within a game though so Sunday's matchup is a must-have for both New York and Miami.
Besides poor play from Atlanta the Knicks have made their postseason run after winning 7 of 10 games from March 15th to April 2nd. They enter the weekend having won three straight in which Carmelo Anthony has averaged 25.3 PPG while J.R. Smith has chipped in 19.3. More than that though the Knicks have been playing strong defense by holding Golden State, Utah, and Brooklyn to under 84 points each. Road wins have been hard to come by for the Knicks this season with just a 16-22 record away from The Garden which doesn't bode well when traveling to American Airlines Arena where Miami is 30-6 this year.
The Heat have eclipsed the Pacers by winning four straight games last week. Granted those outcomes came in two games against Milwaukee and one against Detroit sandwiched by a victory over the Raptors, but they count the same in the win column. Miami has 7 games remaining and if they hold on to the #1 seed their likely first round opponent would be these same Knicks.
New York does have a victory over the Heat as a notch in their belts this season with a 102-92 win coming January 9th in The Garden. Although they also have two 15+ point losses more recently after a 106-91 Miami win on February 1st followed by a 108-82 Heat beatdown February 27th.
ATS Trends
New York is 19-19-0 ATS on the road this season
New York is 20-18-0 against the over/under on the road this season
Miami is 16-19-1 ATS at home this season
Miami is 19-17-0 against the over/under at home this season
Injuries to Watch
New York
04/03/14 G Raymond Felton Back probable
02/05/14 F Kenyon Martin Ankle out indefinitely
01/23/14 C Andrea Bargnani Elbow out indefinitely
Miami
04/04/14 C Greg Oden Back doubtful
04/03/14 G Dwyane Wade Hamstring questionable
04/03/14 G Ray Allen Illness questionable
Tony's Pick: Take Miami
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