Miami Heat at Los Angeles Clippers NBA Picks & Predictions 12/8/2018

Saturday, December 8, 2018

Staples Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Miami Heat travel to Staples Center to play the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday, December 8, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Los Angeles as 4.5 point favorites.

The Heat head into this matchup with a mark of 9-14. They are 4th in the Southeast Division. They have a point differential of -2.0 as they average 107.4 points per contest while giving up 109.4 per game. The Clippers have an overall mark of 16-8. They currently are 1st in the Pacific Division. They total 116.4 points per contest and give up 112.2, which is a point differential of 4.2.

Valuable Miami Heat Betting Trends

The Miami Heat are 10-13-0 against the spread

The Miami Heat are 13-10-0 against the over/under

Important Los Angeles Clippers Betting Trends

The Los Angeles Clippers are 15-9-0 against the spread

The Los Angeles Clippers are 15-9-0 against the over/under

Key Miami Heat Injuries

12/06/18 C Hassan Whiteside Personal is out Friday vs Phoenix
12/06/18 G Wayne Ellington Personal is out Friday vs Phoenix
11/19/18 PG Goran Dragic Knee is doubtful Friday vs Phoenix
10/11/18 G Dion Waiters Ankle is out indefinitely

Key Los Angeles Clippers Injuries

11/29/18 F Luc Mbah a Moute Knee is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Josh Richardson comes into this contest averaging 19.7 points per game while playing 35.0 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 4.0 rebounds per game and dishes out 3.3 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 41% while his free throw percentage currently sits at 85%. Hassan Whiteside averages 13.5 points per game in 26.9 minutes per contest this season. He averages 0.8 assists per contest and 13.7 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 52% for the year while his free throw percentage is 47%.

Player Spotlight

Tobias Harris averages 21.0 points per game while playing 35.0 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 8.5 rebounds per game and has 2.3 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 51% and his free throw percentage is at 85%. Lou Williams averages 17.6 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 25.6 minutes per contest. He also averages 2.5 rebounds per contest and 4.5 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 40% and his free throw percentage is 95%.

Useful Team Statistics

Miami averages 107.4 points per contest this season, which ranks them 24th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is -2.0 and their shooting percentage is 43% as a team, which has them ranked 29th. Behind the arc they shoot 36% which is good for 8th in the league. They average 47.6 rebounds per game and 21.8 assists per game, which ranks them 6th and 25th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 7th with 15.1 per game. The Heat allow 109.4 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 9th in the league. They also allow a 45% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the arc, ranking them 8th and 20th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 46.0 rebounds a game which ranks 18th and they give up 21.7 assists per contest, which puts them in 6th place in the league. They force 13.8 turnovers per game which ranks them 10th in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Los Angeles is 5th in the league with 116.4 points per game this year. They are 8th in the league in shooting at 47%, while their average scoring margin is 4.2. They shoot 38% from 3-point range, which is good for 3rd in the NBA. They are 9th in the league in rebounding with 46.4 boards per game, and 22nd in assists per contest with 22.3. The Clippers are 23rd in turnovers per game with 13.6. The Clippers surrender 112.2 points per contest, which ranks them 22nd in the NBA. Their defense allows a 44% shooting percentage and a 33% average from 3-point range, ranking them 4th and 5th in those defensive statistics. They rank 9th with 23.1 assists allowed per contest and 24th with 46.4 rebounds surrendered per game. The Clippers are 2nd in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 12.0 per game.

Advanced Statistics

The Heat are 27th in the NBA in offensive rating with 106.9, and their defensive rating of 108.9 is ranked 13th. In terms of pace they are 15th in the league with 100 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 50% is 26th. As a team they are 28th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 53% and they shoot 3-pointers on 37% of their shots, ranking 10th in the league. Miami is 9th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.1 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 51%, which is 24th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Los Angeles is 25th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 10.3 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 49%, which is 30th in the NBA. The Clippers are 5th in the league in defensive rating with 109.7, and their offensive rating of 113.7 is ranked 14th. They are 9th in the NBA in pace with 101 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 12th. As a unit they are 4th in the league in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 28% of their shot attempts, ranking 28th in the NBA.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Los Angeles -4.5

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