Orlando Magic at Miami Heat NBA Picks & Predictions 12/26/2017

Tuesday, December 26, 2017

American Airlines Arena

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Orlando Magic travel to American Airlines Arena to play the Miami Heat on Tuesday, December 26, 2017. The opening line for this matchup has Miami as 4 point favorites.

The Magic head into this matchup with a mark of 11-23. They are 4th in the Southeast Division. They currently have a point differential of -5.5 as they are averaging 105.4 points per contest while giving up 110.9 per game. The Heat have an overall record of 17-16. They currently are 2nd in the Southeast Division. They are averaging 100.1 points per game and surrendering 102.0, good for a point differential of -1.9.

Valuable Orlando Magic Betting Trends

The Orlando Magic are 13-21-0 against the spread

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

Important Miami Heat Betting Trends

The Miami Heat are 13-18-2 against the spread

The Miami Heat are 11-20-2 against the over/under

Key Orlando Magic Injuries

12/24/17 F Aaron Gordon Calf is "?" Tuesday vs Miami
12/24/17 G Evan Fournier Ankle is "?" Tuesday vs Miami
12/24/17 C Nikola Vucevic Hand is out indefinitely
12/23/17 F Jonathan Isaac Ankle is "?" Tuesday vs Miami
11/30/17 G Terrence Ross Knee is out indefinitely

Key Miami Heat Injuries

12/24/17 F Justise Winslow Knee is doubtful Tuesday vs Orlando
12/23/17 F James Johnson Ankle left last game, is "?" Tuesday vs Orlando
12/22/17 G Dion Waiters Ankle is out indefinitely
11/30/17 C Hassan Whiteside Knee is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Nikola Vucevic averages 17.4 points per game in 29.9 minutes per contest this season. He averages 3.3 assists per contest and 9.3 rebounds per game for Orlando. His field goal percentage is 49% for the year while his free throw percentage is 82%. Aaron Gordon comes into this contest averaging 18.3 points per game while playing 33.3 minutes per night so far this season for the Magic. He pulls down 8 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 74%.

Player Spotlight

Goran Dragic averages 16.4 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 31.3 minutes per contest. He also averages 4 rebounds per contest and 4.3 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 44% and his free throw percentage is 77%. Dion Waiters averages 14.3 points per game while playing 30.6 minutes per contest this year for the Heat. He grabs 2.6 rebounds per game and has 3.8 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 40% and his free throw percentage currently is at 74%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Magic allow 110.9 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 29th in the league. They also allow a 47% shooting percentage and a 38% average from behind the arc, ranking them 26th and 29th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 46.5 rebounds a game which ranks 30th, and they give up 25.1 assists per contest which puts them in 28th place in the league. They force 14.7 turnovers per game which ranks them 13th in the league. Orlando averages 105.4 points per contest this season, which ranks them 14th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is -5.53 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a team, which has them ranked 12th. Behind the arc they shoot 36% which is good for 18th in the league. They average 41.3 rebounds per game and 23.3 assists per game, which ranks them 23rd and 7th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 13th with 14.8 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Heat surrender 102 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 12th and 27th in those defensive statistics. They rank 5th with 20.5 assists allowed per contest, and 9th with 42.1 rebounds surrendered per game. The Heat are 6th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 13.9 per game this season. Miami is 26th in the league with 100.1 points per game this year. They are 15th in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is -1.91. They shoot 37% from 3-point range, which is good for 10th in the NBA. They are 24th in the league in rebounding with 40.8 boards per game and 22nd in assists per contest with 21.1. The Heat are 10th in turnovers per game with 15.6.

Advanced Statistics

The Magic are 22nd in the NBA in offensive rating with 105.2, and their defensive rating of 110.7 is ranked 4th. In terms of pace they are 6th in the league with 99.8 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 13th. As a team they are 16th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 34% of their shots, ranking 15th in the league. Orlando is 16th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 53%, which is 12th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Miami is 2nd in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.8 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 21st in the league. The Heat are 23rd in the NBA in offensive rating with 105.1, and their defensive rating of 107.1 is ranked 18th. In terms of pace they are 24th in the league with 95 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 8th. As a team they are 9th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 39% of their shots, ranking 4th in the league.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Miami -4

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