Miami Heat at Phoenix Suns NBA Picks & Predictions 12/7/2018

Friday, December 7, 2018

Talking Stick Resort Arena

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Miami Heat travel to Talking Stick Resort Arena to play the Phoenix Suns on Friday, December 7, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Miami as 4 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 Suns have an overall mark of 4-20. They currently are 5th in the Pacific Division. They total 103.0 points per contest and give up 114.0, which is a point differential of -11.0.

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 Phoenix Suns Betting Trends

The Phoenix Suns are 8-16-0 against the spread

The Phoenix Suns are 10-14-0 against the over/under

Key Miami Heat Injuries

11/19/18 PG Goran Dragic Knee is out indefinitely
10/11/18 G Dion Waiters Ankle is out indefinitely

Key Phoenix Suns Injuries

12/06/18 SF TJ Warren Ankle is downgraded to out Thursday vs Portland & Friday vs Miami
12/05/18 G Devin Booker Hamstring is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

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

Player Spotlight

Mikal Bridges averages 6.8 points per game while playing 22.0 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 2.1 rebounds per game and has 1.1 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 41% and his free throw percentage is at 85%. Josh Jackson averages 8.2 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 19.4 minutes per contest. He also averages 3.1 rebounds per contest and 1.9 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 40% and his free throw percentage is 63%.

Useful Team Statistics

Miami averages 107.4 points per contest this season, which ranks them 23rd 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 19th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 46.0 rebounds a game which ranks 19th and they give up 21.7 assists per contest, which puts them in 5th place in the league. They force 13.8 turnovers per game which ranks them 10th in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Phoenix is 28th in the league with 103.0 points per game this year. They are 18th in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is -11.0. They shoot 34% from 3-point range, which is good for 26th in the NBA. They are 29th in the league in rebounding with 39.9 boards per game, and 18th in assists per contest with 23.5. The Suns are 2nd in turnovers per game with 16.2. The Suns surrender 114.0 points per contest, which ranks them 25th in the NBA. Their defense allows a 48% shooting percentage and a 35% average from 3-point range, ranking them 28th and 13th in those defensive statistics. They rank 28th with 25.4 assists allowed per contest and 18th with 45.9 rebounds surrendered per game. The Suns are 16th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 14.5 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

Phoenix is 2nd in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.8 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 54%, which is 4th in the NBA. The Suns are 28th in the league in defensive rating with 114.2, and their offensive rating of 103.2 is ranked 28th. They are 19th in the NBA in pace with 99.5 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 19th. As a unit they are 19th in the league in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shot attempts, ranking 13th in the NBA.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Phoenix +4

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