Miami Heat at Orlando Magic NBA Picks & Predictions 12/23/2018

Sunday, December 23, 2018

Amway Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Miami Heat head to Amway Center to take on the Orlando Magic on Sunday, December 23, 2018. The opening line for this game has Orlando as 2 point favorites.

The Heat head into this matchup with a mark of 14-16. They are 2nd in the Southeast Division. They have a point differential of -0.8 as they average 106.6 points per contest while giving up 107.4 per game. The Magic have an overall mark of 14-17. They currently are 3rd in the Southeast Division. They total 102.8 points per contest and give up 106.9, which is a point differential of -4.1.

Valuable Miami Heat Betting Trends

The Miami Heat are 16-14-0 against the spread this season

The Miami Heat are 15-14-0 against the over/under this year

Important Orlando Magic Betting Trends

The Orlando Magic are 16-13-2 against the spread this season

The Orlando Magic are 11-20-0 against the over/under this year

Key Miami Heat Injuries

12/20/18 SF Justise Winslow Ankle is questionable Saturday vs Milwaukee
12/19/18 PG Goran Dragic Knee is out indefinitely
10/11/18 G Dion Waiters Ankle is out indefinitely

Key Orlando Magic Injuries

12/21/18 SF Jonathon Simmons Ankle is questionable Sunday vs Miami

Player Spotlight

Hassan Whiteside comes into this game averaging 13.2 points per contest while playing 26.4 minutes per night this year. He grabs 13.5 rebounds per contest and distributes 0.9 assists per game. His FG percentage is 53% while his free throw percentage is 46%. Josh Richardson averages 18.7 points per contest in 34.8 minutes per game. He averages 3.6 assists per game and 3.9 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 41% for the season while his free throw percentage is 84%.

Player Spotlight

Nikola Vucevic scores 20.5 points per contest while playing 31.0 minutes per game. He hauls in 12.0 rebounds per contest and has 3.7 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 53% and his free throw percentage is at 84%. Aaron Gordon averages 15.5 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 32.7 minutes per game. He also brings in 7.4 rebounds per game and has 3.1 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is 67%.

Useful Team Statistics

Miami averages 106.6 points per contest, which is 24th in the league. Their average scoring margin is -0.8 and their shooting percentage is 43% as a unit, which has them ranked 30th. From 3-point territory they shoot 35%, which is good for 12th in the NBA. They average 48.0 boards per contest and 22.6 assists per game, which ranks them 3rd and 23rd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 9th with 14.8 per game. The Heat allow 107.4 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 4th and 24th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 45.3 rebounds a game which ranks 18th, and they allow 22.0 assists per game which puts them in 3rd place in the league. They force 13.6 turnovers per game which ranks them 10th in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

Orlando is 28th in the NBA with 102.8 points per contest this season. They are 26th in the league in shooting at 44%, while their average scoring margin is -4.1. They shoot 35% from beyond the arc, which is good for 17th in the league. They are 25th in the NBA in rebounding with 42.4 boards per contest and 9th in assists per game with 24.9. The Magic are 25th in turnovers per contest with 13.0. The Magic give up 106.9 points per game, which ranks them 7th in the league. Their defense surrenders a 46% shooting percentage and a 37% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 18th and 25th in those defensive statistics. They rank 11th with 23.4 dimes allowed per game and 23rd with 46.1 boards surrendered per contest. The Magic are 11th in the league in forcing turnovers with 13.6 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Heat are 25th in the league in defensive rating with 108.1, and their offensive rating of 107.3 is ranked 10th. They are 21st in the NBA in pace with 99 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 50% is 27th. As a unit they are 30th in the league in true shooting percentage with 53% and they shoot 3-pointers on 38% of their shot attempts, ranking 8th in the NBA. Miami is 10th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.8 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.1 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 51%, which is 24th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Orlando is 23rd in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.5 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 52%, which is 14th in the league. The Magic are 27th in the NBA in offensive rating with 105.4, and their defensive rating of 109.6 is ranked 15th. In terms of pace they are 26th in the league with 97.2 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 51% is 24th. As a team they are 25th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shots, ranking 14th in the league.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Miami +2

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