Portland Blazers at Miami Heat NBA Picks & Predictions 12/13/2017

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

American Airlines Arena

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Portland Blazers travel to American Airlines Arena to play the Miami Heat on Wednesday, December 13, 2017. The opening line for this matchup has Miami as 2.5 point favorites.

The Blazers come into this game with an overall record of 13-13. They are 3rd in the Northwest Division. They currently have a point differential of 1.7 as they are averaging 103.3 points per game while giving up 101.6 per contest. The Heat have an overall record of 13-13. They currently are 2nd in the Southeast Division. They are averaging 100.5 points per game and surrendering 102.8, good for a point differential of -2.3.

Valuable Portland Blazers Betting Trends

The Portland Blazers are 10-14-2 against the spread

The Portland Blazers are 8-18-0 against the over/under

Important Miami Heat Betting Trends

The Miami Heat are 10-14-2 against the spread

The Miami Heat are 9-15-2 against the over/under

Key Portland Blazers Injuries

12/12/17 C Jusuf Nurkic Ankle is "?" Wednesday vs Miami
12/12/17 F Maurice Harkless Quad is "?" Wednesday vs Miami

Key Miami Heat Injuries

11/30/17 C Hassan Whiteside Knee is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Damian Lillard comes into this contest averaging 26.6 points per game while playing 37.2 minutes per night so far this season for the Blazers. He pulls down 5.1 rebounds per game and dishes out 6.2 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 42% while his free throw percentage is currently at 93%. C.J. McCollum averages 21 points per game in 36.4 minutes per contest this season. He averages 2.7 assists per contest and 4.2 rebounds per game for Portland. His field goal percentage is 45% for the year while his free throw percentage is 87%.

Player Spotlight

Dion Waiters averages 14.6 points per game while playing 30.6 minutes per contest this year for the Heat. He grabs 2.4 rebounds per game and has 3.7 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 40% and his free throw percentage currently is at 74%. Goran Dragic averages 17.3 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 31.7 minutes per contest. He also averages 4.1 rebounds per contest and 4.4 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 46% and his free throw percentage is 79%.

Useful Team Statistics

Portland averages 103.3 points per contest this season, which ranks them 20th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 1.77 and their shooting percentage is 44% as a team, which has them ranked 26th. Behind the arc they shoot 37% which is good for 8th in the league. They average 46 rebounds per game and 18.1 assists per game, which ranks them 4th and 30th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 16th with 15 per game. The Blazers allow 101.6 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 5th in the league. They also allow a 45% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the arc, ranking them 5th and 5th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 41.4 rebounds a game which ranks 5th and they give up 18.3 assists per contest, which puts them in 1st place in the league. They force 13 turnovers per game which ranks them 2nd in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Miami is 26th in the league with 100.5 points per game this year. They are 18th in the league in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is -2.27. They shoot 37% from 3-point range, which is good for 12th in the NBA. They are 25th in the league in rebounding with 41.3 boards per game, and 24th in assists per contest with 21. The Heat are 9th in turnovers per game with 15.8. The Heat surrender 102.8 points per contest, which ranks them 8th in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 45% shooting percentage and a 37% average from 3-point range, ranking them 10th and 19th in those defensive statistics. They rank 3rd with 20.2 assists allowed per contest and 17th with 43.4 rebounds surrendered per game. The Heat are 6th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 14.2 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Blazers are 20th in the league in defensive rating with 104.4, and their offensive rating of 106.2 is ranked 27th. They are 15th in the NBA in pace with 96.9 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 50% is 25th. As a unit they are 23rd in the league in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 29% of their shot attempts, ranking 26th in the NBA. Portland is 19th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 50%, which is 28th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Miami is 2nd in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.2 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 51%, which is 24th in the league. The Heat are 25th in the NBA in offensive rating with 104.3, and their defensive rating of 106.6 is ranked 20th. In terms of pace they are 22nd in the league with 96 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 9th. 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.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Miami -2.5

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