Miami Heat at Los Angeles Lakers NBA Picks & Predictions 12/10/2018

Monday, December 10, 2018

Staples Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Miami Heat head to Staples Center to take on the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday, December 10, 2018. The opening line for this game has Los Angeles as 5 point favorites.

The Heat have a record of 11-14. They are 3rd in the Southeast Division. They have a point differential of -0.2 as they average 108.2 points per game while giving up 108.5 per contest. The Lakers have an overall mark of 16-10. They currently are 3rd in the Pacific Division. They total 113.3 points per contest and give up 111.1, which is a point differential of 2.2.

Valuable Miami Heat Betting Trends

The Miami Heat are 12-13-0 against the spread this season

The Miami Heat are 14-10-0 against the over/under this year

Important Los Angeles Lakers Betting Trends

The Los Angeles Lakers are 11-14-1 against the spread this season

The Los Angeles Lakers are 10-16-0 against the over/under this year

Key Miami Heat Injuries

12/08/18 PG Goran Dragic Rest is questionable Monday vs LA Lakers
12/08/18 C Hassan Whiteside Personal is questionable Monday vs LA Lakers
12/08/18 SF Josh Richardson Shoulder is questionable Monday vs LA Lakers
12/08/18 G Tyler Johnson Back left last game, is questionable Monday vs LA Lakers
12/08/18 G Wayne Ellington Personal is questionable Monday vs LA Lakers
10/11/18 G Dion Waiters Ankle is out indefinitely

Key Los Angeles Lakers Injuries

12/08/18 SF Brandon Ingram Ankle is out indefinitely
11/15/18 PG Rajon Rondo Hand is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Josh Richardson comes into this game averaging 19.2 points per contest while playing 35.2 minutes per night this year. He grabs 4.0 rebounds per contest and distributes 3.3 assists per game. His FG percentage is 41% while his free throw percentage is 85%. Hassan Whiteside averages 13.5 points per contest in 26.9 minutes per game. He averages 0.8 assists per game and 13.7 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 52% for the season while his free throw percentage is 47%.

Player Spotlight

Kyle Kuzma scores 17.3 points per contest while playing 31.5 minutes per game. He hauls in 5.7 rebounds per contest and has 2.1 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage is at 73%. LeBron James averages 28.3 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 34.8 minutes per game. He also brings in 7.7 rebounds per game and has 6.9 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 52% and his free throw percentage is 71%.

Useful Team Statistics

Miami averages 108.2 points per contest, which is 22nd in the league. Their average scoring margin is -0.2 and their shooting percentage is 43% as a unit, which has them ranked 29th. From 3-point territory they shoot 36%, which is good for 8th in the NBA. They average 47.7 boards per contest and 22.4 assists per game, which ranks them 6th and 23rd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 10th with 14.8 per game. The Heat allow 108.5 points per contest, which is 9th in the NBA. They also surrender a 44% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 7th and 20th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 45.9 rebounds a game which ranks 18th, and they allow 21.6 assists per game which puts them in 6th place in the league. They force 14.1 turnovers per game which ranks them 13th in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

Los Angeles is 9th in the NBA with 113.3 points per contest this season. They are 7th in the league in shooting at 47%, while their average scoring margin is 2.19. They shoot 35% from beyond the arc, which is good for 19th in the league. They are 9th in the NBA in rebounding with 46.6 boards per contest and 15th in assists per game with 23.9. The Lakers are 5th in turnovers per contest with 15.4. The Lakers give up 111.1 points per game, which ranks them 19th in the league. Their defense surrenders a 45% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 11th and 12th in those defensive statistics. They rank 10th with 23.2 dimes allowed per game and 23rd with 46.4 boards surrendered per contest. The Lakers are 16th in the league in forcing turnovers with 14.4 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Heat are 24th in the NBA in offensive rating with 107.6, and their defensive rating of 107.9 is ranked 10th. In terms of pace they are 12th in the league with 100.1 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 50% is 26th. As a team they are 27th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 38% of their shots, ranking 9th in the league. Miami is 12th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.8 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 25th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Los Angeles is 8th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.2 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.3 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 51%, which is 24th in the league. The Lakers are 16th in the NBA in offensive rating with 109.6, and their defensive rating of 107.5 is ranked 8th. In terms of pace they are 5th in the league with 102.9 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 6th. As a team they are 14th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 33% of their shots, ranking 19th in the league.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Los Angeles -5

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