Miami Heat at Charlotte Hornets NBA Picks & Predictions 12/15/2017

Friday, December 15, 2017

Spectrum Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Miami Heat head to Spectrum Center to take on the Charlotte Hornets on Friday, December 15, 2017. The opening line for this game has Charlotte as 5 point favorites.

The Heat head into this matchup with a mark of 13-14. They are 2nd in the Southeast Division. They currently have a point differential of -2.4 as they are averaging 100.3 points per contest while giving up 102.7 per game. The Hornets have an overall record of 10-17. They currently are 4th in the Southeast Division. They are averaging 104.7 points per game and surrendering 106.7, good for a point differential of -2.0.

Valuable Miami Heat Betting Trends

The Miami Heat are 10-15-2 against the spread

The Miami Heat are 9-16-2 against the over/under

Important Charlotte Hornets Betting Trends

The Charlotte Hornets are 11-14-2 against the spread

The Charlotte Hornets are 12-14-1 against the over/under

Key Miami Heat Injuries

12/14/17 F Justise Winslow Knee injured last game, is "?" Friday vs Charlotte
12/13/17 G Tyler Johnson Migraine is "?" Friday vs Charlotte
11/30/17 C Hassan Whiteside Knee is out indefinitely

Key Charlotte Hornets Injuries

12/07/17 F Cody Zeller Knee is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Dion Waiters comes into this game averaging 14.7 points per contest while playing 30.9 minutes per night so far this year. He grabs 2.4 rebounds per contest and distributes 3.6 assists per game. His FG percentage is 39% while his free throw percentage is 71%. Goran Dragic averages 17.1 points per contest in 31.6 minutes per game this year. He averages 4.4 assists per game and 4.1 rebounds per contest for Miami. His field goal percentage is 45% for the season while his free throw percentage is 77%.

Player Spotlight

Dwight Howard has scored 16.4 points per contest while playing 30 minutes per game this season for the Hornets. He hauls in 12.4 rebounds per contest and has 1.2 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 56% and his free throw percentage is at 51%. Kemba Walker averages 22.1 points per game this year and he's on the court an average of 35.4 minutes per game. He also brings in 3.7 rebounds per game and 6 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 43% and his free throw percentage is 86%.

Useful Team Statistics

Miami averages 100.3 points per contest this year, which is 26th in the league. Their average scoring margin is -2.44 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a unit, which has them ranked 16th. From 3-point territory they shoot 37%, which is good for 10th in the NBA. They average 41.1 boards per contest and 20.9 assists per game, which ranks them 25th and 24th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 8th with 15.8 per game. The Heat allow 102.7 points per contest which is 8th in the NBA. They also surrender a 46% shooting percentage and a 37% average from 3-point range, ranking them 13th and 19th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 43 rebounds a game which ranks 16th, and they allow 19.9 assists per game which puts them in 3rd place in the league. They force 14.1 turnovers per game which ranks them 7th in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

Charlotte is 16th in the NBA with 104.7 points per contest this season. They are 27th in the league in shooting at 44%, while their average scoring margin is -2. They shoot 35% from beyond the arc, which is good for 24th in the league. They are 2nd in the NBA in rebounding with 47.1 boards per contest and 28th in assists per game with 20.1. The Hornets are 29th in turnovers per contest with 13.4. The Hornets give up 106.7 points per game, which ranks them 18th in the league. Their defense is surrendering a 45% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 8th and 5th in those defensive statistics. They rank 17th with 22.8 dimes allowed per game and 23rd with 44.1 boards surrendered per contest. The Hornets are 3rd in the league in forcing turnovers with 13.4 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Heat are 24th in the NBA in offensive rating with 104.5, and their defensive rating of 107 is ranked 19th. In terms of pace they are 25th in the league with 95.6 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 8th. As a team they are 12th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 39% of their shots, ranking 3rd in the league. Miami is 2nd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.1 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 51%, which is 23rd in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Charlotte is 30th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.2 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 51%, which is 19th in the NBA. The Hornets are 23rd in the league in defensive rating with 107.1, and their offensive rating of 105.1 is ranked 18th. They are 9th in the NBA in pace with 98.9 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 49% is 29th. As a unit they are 27th in the league in true shooting percentage with 53% and they shoot 3-pointers on 29% of their shot attempts, ranking 26th in the NBA.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Miami +5

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