Miami Heat at New York Knicks NBA Picks & Predictions 4/6/2018

Friday, April 6, 2018

Madison Square Garden

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Miami Heat travel to Madison Square Garden to play the New York Knicks on Friday, April 6, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Miami as 9 point favorites.

The Heat come into this game with an overall record of 43-36. They are 1st in the Southeast Division. They currently have a point differential of 1.0 as they are averaging 103.5 points per game while giving up 102.5 per contest. The Knicks have an overall record of 27-51. They currently are 4th in the Atlantic Division. They are averaging 104.1 points per game and surrendering 108.0, good for a point differential of -3.9.

Valuable Miami Heat Betting Trends

The Miami Heat are 39-34-6 against the spread

The Miami Heat are 35-41-3 against the over/under

Important New York Knicks Betting Trends

The New York Knicks are 36-42-0 against the spread

The New York Knicks are 39-37-2 against the over/under

Key Miami Heat Injuries

04/04/18 F James Johnson Ankle is "?" Friday vs New York
01/12/18 G Dion Waiters Ankle is out for season

Key New York Knicks Injuries

04/05/18 C Enes Kanter Back is OUT Friday vs Miami
04/03/18 F Michael Beasley Illness is "?" Friday vs Miami
02/07/18 F Kristaps Porzingis ACL is out for season

Player Spotlight

Josh Richardson averages 13.1 points per game in 33.3 minutes per contest this season. He averages 2.8 assists per contest and 3.5 rebounds per game for Miami. His field goal percentage is 45% for the year while his free throw percentage is 85%. Goran Dragic comes into this contest averaging 17.5 points per game while playing 31.8 minutes per night so far this season for the Heat. He pulls down 4.1 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 80%.

Player Spotlight

Courtney Lee averages 11.9 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 30.5 minutes per contest. He also averages 2.9 rebounds per contest and 2.4 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is 92%. Tim Hardaway averages 17.5 points per game while playing 33.1 minutes per contest this year for the Knicks. He grabs 3.9 rebounds per game and has 2.7 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 42% and his free throw percentage currently is at 82%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Heat allow 102.5 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 5th and 11th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 42.9 rebounds a game which ranks 15th, and they give up 20.8 assists per contest which puts them in 3rd place in the league. They force 14.2 turnovers per game which ranks them 14th in the league. Miami averages 103.5 points per contest this season, which ranks them 23rd in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 0.99 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a team, which has them ranked 17th. Behind the arc they shoot 36% which is good for 15th in the league. They average 43.3 rebounds per game and 22.7 assists per game, which ranks them 19th and 16th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 15th with 14.5 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Knicks surrender 108 points per contest, which ranks them 19th in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 46% shooting percentage and a 37% average from 3-point range, ranking them 13th and 22nd in those defensive statistics. They rank 21st with 24 assists allowed per contest, and 16th with 43.1 rebounds surrendered per game. The Knicks are 5th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 13.4 per game this season. New York is 18th in the league with 104.1 points per game this year. They are 13th in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is -3.86. They shoot 35% from 3-point range, which is good for 29th in the NBA. They are 12th in the league in rebounding with 44.1 boards per game and 14th in assists per contest with 23. The Knicks are 10th in turnovers per game with 14.8.

Advanced Statistics

The Heat are 19th in the NBA in offensive rating with 107, and their defensive rating of 106 is ranked 26th. In terms of pace they are 27th in the league with 95.5 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 14th. As a team they are 14th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shots, ranking 6th in the league. Miami is 10th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.2 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 51%, which is 25th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

New York is 12th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.3 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.2 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 52%, which is 16th in the NBA. The Knicks are 22nd in the league in defensive rating with 110.7, and their offensive rating of 106.7 is ranked 9th. They are 16th in the NBA in pace with 96.8 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 51% is 24th. As a unit they are 25th in the league in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 26% of their shot attempts, ranking 29th in the NBA.

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

Tony's Pick: Take New York +9

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