Miami Heat at Orlando Magic NBA Picks & Predictions 12/30/2017

Saturday, December 30, 2017

Amway Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Miami Heat travel to Amway Center to play the Orlando Magic on Saturday, December 30, 2017. The opening line for this matchup has Miami as 1 point favorites.

The Heat head into this matchup with a mark of 18-16. They are 2nd in the Southeast Division. They currently have a point differential of -1.3 as they are averaging 100.3 points per contest while giving up 101.6 per game. The Magic have an overall record of 12-24. They currently are 4th in the Southeast Division. They are averaging 104.8 points per game and surrendering 110.2, good for a point differential of -5.4.

Valuable 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

Important Orlando Magic Betting Trends

The Orlando Magic are 14-22-0 against the spread

The Orlando Magic are 17-19-0 against the over/under

Key Miami Heat Injuries

12/28/17 F Justise Winslow Knee is downgraded to OUT Friday vs Brooklyn
12/26/17 F James Johnson Ankle is out indefinitely
12/22/17 G Dion Waiters Ankle is out indefinitely

Key Orlando Magic Injuries

12/28/17 F Jonathan Isaac Ankle is "?" Saturday vs Miami
12/24/17 C Nikola Vucevic Hand is out indefinitely
11/30/17 G Terrence Ross Knee is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Hassan Whiteside comes into this contest averaging 14.4 points per game while playing 26.3 minutes per night so far this season for the Heat. He pulls down 12.4 rebounds per game and dishes out 0.4 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 57% while his free throw percentage is currently at 69%. Goran Dragic averages 16.4 points per game in 31.3 minutes per contest this season. He averages 4.4 assists per contest and 4 rebounds per game for Miami. His field goal percentage is 44% for the year while his free throw percentage is 76%.

Player Spotlight

Jonathon Simmons averages 14.8 points per game while playing 29.1 minutes per contest this year for the Magic. He grabs 3.9 rebounds per game and has 2.2 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage currently is at 74%. Evan Fournier averages 18.1 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 32.4 minutes per contest. He also averages 3.2 rebounds per contest and 3 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 48% and his free throw percentage is 87%.

Useful Team Statistics

Miami averages 100.3 points per contest this season, which ranks them 26th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is -1.32 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a team, which has them ranked 15th. Behind the arc they shoot 37% which is good for 10th in the league. They average 41.2 rebounds per game and 21.1 assists per game, which ranks them 24th and 22nd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 7th with 15.6 per game. The Heat allow 101.6 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 7th in the league. They also allow a 45% shooting percentage and a 38% average from behind the arc, ranking them 11th and 26th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 42.1 rebounds a game which ranks 8th and they give up 20.3 assists per contest, which puts them in 4th place in the league. They force 14 turnovers per game which ranks them 8th in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Orlando is 16th in the league with 104.8 points per game this year. They are 14th in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is -5.36. They shoot 36% from 3-point range, which is good for 15th in the NBA. They are 23rd in the league in rebounding with 41.5 boards per game, and 8th in assists per contest with 23. The Magic are 12th in turnovers per game with 15. The Magic surrender 110.2 points per contest, which ranks them 27th in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 47% shooting percentage and a 38% average from 3-point range, ranking them 23rd and 28th in those defensive statistics. They rank 28th with 24.9 assists allowed per contest and 30th with 46.6 rebounds surrendered per game. The Magic are 16th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 14.8 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Heat are 21st in the league in defensive rating with 106.6, and their offensive rating of 105.3 is ranked 20th. 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. Miami is 2nd 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 23rd in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Orlando is 14th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.1 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 53%, which is 13th in the NBA. The Magic are 25th in the league in defensive rating with 110.2, and their offensive rating of 104.8 is ranked 7th. They are 7th in the NBA in pace with 99.7 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 14th. As a unit they are 17th in the league in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 34% of their shot attempts, ranking 15th in the NBA.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Orlando +1

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