Miami Heat at Toronto Raptors NBA Picks & Predictions 1/9/2018

Tuesday, January 9, 2018

Air Canada Centre

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Miami Heat travel to Air Canada Centre to play the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday, January 9, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Toronto as 7.5 point favorites.

The Heat head into this matchup with a mark of 22-17. They are 2nd in the Southeast Division. They currently have a point differential of -1.3 as they are averaging 100.9 points per contest while giving up 102.2 per game. The Raptors have an overall record of 27-10. They currently are 2nd in the Atlantic Division. They are averaging 112.1 points per game and surrendering 104.0, good for a point differential of 8.1.

Valuable Miami Heat Betting Trends

The Miami Heat are 16-21-2 against the spread

The Miami Heat are 15-22-2 against the over/under

Important Toronto Raptors Betting Trends

The Toronto Raptors are 22-15-0 against the spread

The Toronto Raptors are 19-18-0 against the over/under

Key Miami Heat Injuries

12/22/17 G Dion Waiters Ankle is out indefinitely
01/08/18 F Justise Winslow Knee is doubtful Tuesday vs Toronto

Key Toronto Raptors Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Goran Dragic comes into this contest averaging 16.7 points per game while playing 31.7 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 43% while his free throw percentage is currently at 77%. Hassan Whiteside averages 14 points per game in 25.5 minutes per contest this season. He averages 0.6 assists per contest and 11.5 rebounds per game for Miami. His field goal percentage is 56% for the year while his free throw percentage is 70%.

Player Spotlight

Kyle Lowry averages 16.2 points per game while playing 32.7 minutes per contest this year for the Raptors. He grabs 6.1 rebounds per game and has 6.9 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 42% and his free throw percentage currently is at 88%. DeMar DeRozan averages 25 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 34.4 minutes per contest. He also averages 4.3 rebounds per contest and 4.9 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 49% and his free throw percentage is 83%.

Useful Team Statistics

Miami averages 100.9 points per contest this season, which ranks them 27th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is -1.31 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a team, which has them ranked 16th. Behind the arc they shoot 37% which is good for 13th in the league. They average 41.2 rebounds per game and 21.3 assists per game, which ranks them 24th and 22nd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 11th with 15.1 per game. The Heat allow 102.2 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 7th in the league. They also allow a 46% shooting percentage and a 38% average from behind the arc, ranking them 12th and 26th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 42.1 rebounds a game which ranks 9th and they give up 20.4 assists per contest, which puts them in 4th place in the league. They force 14 turnovers per game which ranks them 8th in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Toronto is 3rd in the league with 112.1 points per game this year. They are 6th in the league in shooting at 48%, while their average scoring margin is 8.08. They shoot 35% from 3-point range, which is good for 27th in the NBA. They are 18th in the league in rebounding with 42.6 boards per game, and 11th in assists per contest with 22.9. The Raptors are 25th in turnovers per game with 13.8. The Raptors surrender 104 points per contest, which ranks them 10th in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 45% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 10th and 9th in those defensive statistics. They rank 14th with 22.4 assists allowed per contest and 6th with 41.6 rebounds surrendered per game. The Raptors are 27th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 15.8 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Heat are 23rd in the league in defensive rating with 107.4, and their offensive rating of 106 is ranked 19th. They are 27th in the NBA in pace with 94.7 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 9th. As a unit they are 11th in the league in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 38% of their shot attempts, ranking 4th in the NBA. Miami is 4th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.3 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.2 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 52%, which is 21st in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Toronto is 26th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.3 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 51%, which is 25th in the NBA. The Raptors are 3rd in the league in defensive rating with 105.7, and their offensive rating of 113.9 is ranked 25th. They are 10th in the NBA in pace with 98.1 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 54% is 5th. As a unit they are 5th in the league in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 37% of their shot attempts, ranking 6th in the NBA.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Toronto -7.5

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