Charlotte Hornets at Miami Heat NBA Picks & Predictions 1/27/2018

Saturday, January 27, 2018

American Airlines Arena

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Charlotte Hornets travel to American Airlines Arena to play the Miami Heat on Saturday, January 27, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Miami as 5 point favorites.

The Hornets come into this game with an overall record of 19-27. They are 3rd in the Southeast Division. They currently have a point differential of -0.1 as they are averaging 105.6 points per game while giving up 105.7 per contest. The Heat have an overall mark of 27-21. They currently are 1st in the Southeast Division. They are averaging 100.7 points per contest and giving up 101.5, which is a point differential of -0.8.

Valuable Charlotte Hornets Betting Trends

The Charlotte Hornets are 19-24-3 against the spread

The Charlotte Hornets are 21-24-1 against the over/under

Important Miami Heat Betting Trends

The Miami Heat are 22-24-2 against the spread

The Miami Heat are 19-27-2 against the over/under

Key Charlotte Hornets Injuries

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

Key Miami Heat Injuries

01/25/18 G Tyler Johnson Ankle is "?" Saturday vs Charlotte
01/12/18 G Dion Waiters Ankle is out for season

Player Spotlight

Kemba Walker averages 21.7 points per game in 34.7 minutes per contest this season. He averages 5.9 assists per contest and 3.4 rebounds per game for Charlotte. His field goal percentage is 42% for the year while his free throw percentage is 85%. Dwight Howard comes into this contest averaging 15.6 points per game while playing 30.6 minutes per night so far this season for the Hornets. He pulls down 12.7 rebounds per game and dishes out 1.3 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 54% while his free throw percentage is currently at 53%.

Player Spotlight

Goran Dragic averages 17.4 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 32.1 minutes per contest. He also averages 4.2 rebounds per contest and 4.8 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 44% and his free throw percentage is 77%. Hassan Whiteside averages 14.5 points per game while playing 26.2 minutes per contest this year for the Heat. He grabs 11.9 rebounds per game and has 0.8 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 56% and his free throw percentage currently is at 74%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Hornets allow 105.7 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 13th in the league. They also allow a 46% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the arc, ranking them 11th and 13th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 43.7 rebounds a game which ranks 17th, and they give up 23.6 assists per contest which puts them in 20th place in the league. They force 13.7 turnovers per game which ranks them 6th in the league. Charlotte averages 105.6 points per contest this season, which ranks them 15th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is -0.11 and their shooting percentage is 44% as a team, which has them ranked 28th. Behind the arc they shoot 36% which is good for 20th in the league. They average 46.6 rebounds per game and 20.7 assists per game, which ranks them 2nd and 28th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 28th with 13.1 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Heat surrender 101.5 points per contest, which ranks them 3rd in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 45% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 9th and 16th in those defensive statistics. They rank 3rd with 20 assists allowed per contest, and 7th with 41.9 rebounds surrendered per game. The Heat are 4th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 13.5 per game this season. Miami is 28th in the league with 100.7 points per game this year. They are 16th in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is -0.88. They shoot 36% from 3-point range, which is good for 15th in the NBA. They are 20th in the league in rebounding with 42.1 boards per game and 23rd in assists per contest with 21.8. The Heat are 11th in turnovers per game with 15.1.

Advanced Statistics

The Hornets are 19th in the NBA in offensive rating with 106.6, and their defensive rating of 106.7 is ranked 21st. In terms of pace they are 9th in the league with 98.6 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 50% is 30th. As a team they are 28th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 30% of their shots, ranking 25th in the league. Charlotte is 29th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.6 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 52%, which is 17th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Miami is 3rd in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.2 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.8 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 51%, which is 23rd in the league. The Heat are 25th in the NBA in offensive rating with 105.7, and their defensive rating of 106.6 is ranked 23rd. In terms of pace they are 28th in the league with 94.9 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 11th. As a team they are 13th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 38% of their shots, ranking 6th in the league.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Miami -5

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