Brooklyn Nets at Miami Heat NBA Picks & Predictions 12/29/2017

Friday, December 29, 2017

American Airlines Arena

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Brooklyn Nets travel to American Airlines Arena to play the Miami Heat on Friday, December 29, 2017. The opening line for this matchup has Miami as 7.5 point favorites.

The Nets come into this game with an overall record of 12-22. They are 5th in the Atlantic Division. They currently have a point differential of -3.3 as they are averaging 107.4 points per game while giving up 110.7 per contest. The Heat have an overall record of 18-16. They currently are 2nd in the Southeast Division. They are averaging 100.3 points per game and surrendering 101.6, good for a point differential of -1.3.

Valuable Brooklyn Nets Betting Trends

The Brooklyn Nets are 19-15-0 against the spread

The Brooklyn Nets are 14-19-1 against the over/under

Important Miami Heat Betting Trends

The Miami Heat are 14-18-2 against the spread

The Miami Heat are 11-21-2 against the over/under

Key Brooklyn Nets Injuries

11/13/17 PG D'Angelo Russell Knee is out indefinitely
10/19/17 PG Jeremy Lin Knee is out for season

Key Miami Heat Injuries

12/26/17 F James Johnson Ankle is out indefinitely
12/26/17 F Justise Winslow Knee is "?" Friday vs Brooklyn
12/22/17 G Dion Waiters Ankle is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

DeMarre Carroll averages 12.6 points per game in 28.7 minutes per contest this season. He averages 1.8 assists per contest and 6.7 rebounds per game for Brooklyn. His field goal percentage is 40% for the year while his free throw percentage is 76%. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson comes into this contest averaging 14.7 points per game while playing 28.1 minutes per night so far this season for the Nets. He pulls down 6.3 rebounds per game and dishes out 2.2 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 49% while his free throw percentage is currently at 81%.

Player Spotlight

Hassan Whiteside averages 14.4 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 26.3 minutes per contest. He also averages 12.4 rebounds per contest and 0.4 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 57% and his free throw percentage is 69%. Goran Dragic averages 16.4 points per game while playing 31.3 minutes per contest this year for the Heat. He grabs 4 rebounds per game and has 4.4 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 44% and his free throw percentage currently is at 76%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Nets allow 110.7 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 27th in the league. They also allow a 47% shooting percentage and a 37% average from behind the arc, ranking them 23rd and 14th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 45.8 rebounds a game which ranks 29th, and they give up 21.9 assists per contest which puts them in 10th place in the league. They force 13.3 turnovers per game which ranks them 2nd in the league. Brooklyn averages 107.4 points per contest this season, which ranks them 9th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is -3.29 and their shooting percentage is 44% as a team, which has them ranked 27th. Behind the arc they shoot 35% which is good for 24th in the league. They average 45.2 rebounds per game and 22.7 assists per game, which ranks them 6th and 13th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 6th with 15.8 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Heat surrender 101.6 points per contest, which ranks them 7th in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 45% shooting percentage and a 38% average from 3-point range, ranking them 11th and 26th in those defensive statistics. They rank 4th with 20.3 assists allowed per contest, and 8th with 42.1 rebounds surrendered per game. The Heat are 7th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 14 per game this season. Miami is 26th in the league with 100.3 points per game this year. They are 15th in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is -1.32. They shoot 37% from 3-point range, which is good for 10th in the NBA. They are 24th in the league in rebounding with 41.2 boards per game and 22nd in assists per contest with 21.1. The Heat are 8th in turnovers per game with 15.6.

Advanced Statistics

The Nets are 18th in the NBA in offensive rating with 106.6, and their defensive rating of 109.8 is ranked 9th. In terms of pace they are 4th in the league with 100.5 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 51% is 22nd. As a team they are 20th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 40% of their shots, ranking 2nd in the league. Brooklyn is 8th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 11.8 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 52%, which is 15th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Miami is 2nd in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.8 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.2 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 51%, which is 22nd in the NBA. The Heat are 21st in the league in defensive rating with 106.6, and their offensive rating of 105.3 is ranked 19th. They are 24th in the NBA in pace with 95 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 9th. As a unit they are 10th in the league in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 39% of their shot attempts, ranking 4th in the NBA.

Who will win tonight's Nets/Heat NBA game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take Miami -7.5

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