Cleveland Cavaliers at Miami Heat NBA Picks & Predictions 12/28/2018

Friday, December 28, 2018

American Airlines Arena

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Cleveland Cavaliers travel to American Airlines Arena to play the Miami Heat on Friday, December 28, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Miami as 10.5 point favorites.

The Cavaliers have a record of 8-27. They are 5th in the Central Division. They have a point differential of -8.8 as they average 102.3 points per game while giving up 111.1 per contest. The Heat have an overall record of 16-17 this season. They are 2nd in the Southeast Division. They average 106.4 points per game and surrender 106.3, good for a point differential of 0.1.

Valuable Cleveland Cavaliers Betting Trends

The Cleveland Cavaliers are 16-18-0 against the spread

The Cleveland Cavaliers are 16-18-0 against the over/under

Important Miami Heat Betting Trends

The Miami Heat are 18-14-0 against the spread

The Miami Heat are 16-15-0 against the over/under

Key Cleveland Cavaliers Injuries

12/26/18 G David Nwaba Knee is questionable Friday vs Miami
12/26/18 G Rodney Hood Achilles is questionable Friday vs Miami
12/11/18 F Tristan Thompson Foot is out indefinitely
11/26/18 G JR Smith Possible Trade is out indefinitely
11/16/18 F John Henson Wrist is out indefinitely
10/29/18 F Kevin Love Foot is out indefinitely

Key Miami Heat Injuries

12/27/18 C Hassan Whiteside Hip injured last game, is probable Friday vs Cleveland
12/19/18 PG Goran Dragic Knee is out indefinitely
10/11/18 G Dion Waiters Ankle is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Jordan Clarkson averages 17.1 points per game in 26.4 minutes per contest. He averages 2.2 assists per contest and 3.5 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 45% for the year while his free throw percentage is 85%. Rodney Hood comes into this contest averaging 12.9 points per game while playing 28.2 minutes per night. He pulls down 2.4 rebounds per game and dishes out 2.1 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 44% while his free throw percentage is at 89%.

Player Spotlight

Hassan Whiteside averages 13.3 points per game and he sees the court an average of 26.6 minutes per contest. He also averages 13.1 rebounds per contest and 0.9 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 52% and his free throw percentage is 43%. Josh Richardson averages 18.5 points per game while playing 35.1 minutes per contest. He grabs 4.0 rebounds per game and has 3.7 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 41% and his free throw percentage is at 85%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Cavaliers allow 111.1 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 19th in the league. They also allow a 49% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the arc, ranking them 30th and 24th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 43.1 rebounds a game which ranks 5th, and they give up 23.8 assists per contest which puts them in 12th place in the league. They force 11.9 turnovers per game which ranks them 2nd in the league. Cleveland averages 102.3 points per contest this season, which ranks them 28th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is -8.8 and their shooting percentage is 44% as a team, which has them ranked 25th. Behind the arc they shoot 35% which is good for 15th in the league. They average 43.6 rebounds per game and 19.7 assists per contest, which ranks them 24th and 30th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 28th with 12.8 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Heat surrender 106.3 points per contest, which ranks them 8th in the NBA. Their defense allows a 44% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 3rd and 22nd in those defensive statistics. They rank 2nd with 21.7 assists allowed per contest, and 18th with 45.2 rebounds surrendered per game. The Heat are 13th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 13.8 per game. Miami is 25th in the league with 106.4 points per game this year. They are 30th in the league in shooting at 43%, while their average scoring margin is 0.1. They shoot 36% from 3-point range, which is good for 9th in the NBA. They are 5th in the league in rebounding with 47.6 boards per game and 22nd in assists per contest with 22.9. The Heat are 12th in turnovers per game with 14.5.

Advanced Statistics

The Cavaliers are 25th in the league in defensive rating with 116.3, and their offensive rating of 107.1 is ranked 30th. They are 29th in the NBA in pace with 95.6 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 49% is 29th. As a unit they are 30th in the league in true shooting percentage with 53% and they shoot 3-pointers on 29% of their shot attempts, ranking 28th in the NBA. Cleveland is 25th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 11.1 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 55%, which is 1st in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Miami is 9th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.4 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 50%, which is 27th in the league. The Heat are 21st in the NBA in offensive rating with 107.6, and their defensive rating of 107.4 is ranked 8th. In terms of pace they are 22nd in the league with 98.6 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 50% is 26th. As a team they are 26th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 53% and they shoot 3-pointers on 38% of their shots, ranking 8th in the league.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Cleveland +10.5

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