Miami Heat at Los Angeles Lakers NBA Picks & Predictions 3/16/2018

Friday, March 16, 2018

Staples Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Miami Heat travel to Staples Center to play the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday, March 16, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Miami as 3 point favorites.

The Heat head into this matchup with a mark of 36-33. They are 2nd in the Southeast Division. They currently have a point differential of 0.0 as they are averaging 102.6 points per contest while giving up 102.6 per game. The Lakers have an overall mark of 31-37. They currently are 3rd in the Pacific Division. They are averaging 108.7 points per contest and giving up 110.2, which is a point differential of -1.5.

Valuable Miami Heat Betting Trends

The Miami Heat are 34-30-5 against the spread

The Miami Heat are 32-35-2 against the over/under

Important Los Angeles Lakers Betting Trends

The Los Angeles Lakers are 37-31-0 against the spread

The Los Angeles Lakers are 36-31-1 against the over/under

Key Miami Heat Injuries

03/15/18 C Hassan Whiteside Hip is "?" Friday vs LA Lakers
03/14/18 G Josh Richardson Ankle is "? Friday vs LA Lakers
03/11/18 G Dwyane Wade Hamstring is out indefinitely
01/12/18 G Dion Waiters Ankle is out for season

Key Los Angeles Lakers Injuries

03/15/18 F Kyle Kuzma Ankle is "?" Friday vs Miami
03/05/18 F Brandon Ingram Hip is out indefinitely
03/01/18 G Josh Hart Hand is out indefinitely
02/17/18 F Channing Frye Appendix is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Goran Dragic comes into this contest averaging 17.5 points per game while playing 31.7 minutes per night so far this season for the Heat. He pulls down 4 rebounds per game and dishes out 4.8 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 45% while his free throw percentage is currently at 79%. Josh Richardson averages 13.1 points per game in 33.3 minutes per contest this season. He averages 2.8 assists per contest and 3.3 rebounds per game for Miami. His field goal percentage is 46% for the year while his free throw percentage is 83%.

Player Spotlight

Julius Randle averages 15.7 points per game while playing 25.9 minutes per contest this year for the Lakers. He grabs 7.8 rebounds per game and has 2.5 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 57% and his free throw percentage currently is at 70%. Kyle Kuzma averages 15.5 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 30.1 minutes per contest. He also averages 6.2 rebounds per contest and 1.8 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is 70%.

Useful Team Statistics

Miami averages 102.6 points per contest this season, which ranks them 26th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is -0.01 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a team, which has them ranked 18th. Behind the arc they shoot 36% which is good for 18th in the league. They average 43.2 rebounds per game and 22.4 assists per game, which ranks them 19th and 21st in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 14th with 14.6 per game. The Heat allow 102.6 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 4th in the league. They also allow a 45% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the arc, ranking them 9th and 13th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 42.3 rebounds a game which ranks 10th and they give up 20.7 assists per contest, which puts them in 3rd place in the league. They force 14 turnovers per game which ranks them 8th in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Los Angeles is 9th in the league with 108.7 points per game this year. They are 14th in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is -1.49. They shoot 35% from 3-point range, which is good for 29th in the NBA. They are 2nd in the league in rebounding with 46.3 boards per game, and 6th in assists per contest with 23.9. The Lakers are 3rd in turnovers per game with 15.8. The Lakers surrender 110.2 points per contest, which ranks them 28th in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 46% shooting percentage and a 35% average from 3-point range, ranking them 11th and 6th in those defensive statistics. They rank 18th with 23.5 assists allowed per contest and 24th with 44.9 rebounds surrendered per game. The Lakers are 20th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 14.8 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Heat are 19th in the NBA in offensive rating with 106.8, and their defensive rating of 106.8 is ranked 22nd. In terms of pace they are 26th in the league with 95.4 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 16th. As a team they are 18th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shots, ranking 7th in the league. Miami is 11th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 51%, which is 23rd in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Los Angeles is 7th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 52%, which is 21st in the NBA. The Lakers are 22nd in the league in defensive rating with 108, and their offensive rating of 106.6 is ranked 18th. They are 1st in the NBA in pace with 100.9 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 17th. As a unit they are 19th in the league in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 32% of their shot attempts, ranking 19th in the NBA.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Los Angeles +3

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