Miami Heat at Utah Jazz NBA Picks & Predictions 12/12/2018

Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Vivint Smart Home Arena

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Miami Heat travel to Vivint Smart Home Arena to play the Utah Jazz on Wednesday, December 12, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Utah as 5.5 point favorites.

The Heat have a record of 11-15. They are 3rd in the Southeast Division. They have a point differential of -0.3 as they average 108.1 points per game while giving up 108.5 per contest. The Jazz have an overall mark of 13-15. They currently are 5th in the Northwest Division. They total 107.3 points per contest and give up 107.8, which is a point differential of -0.6.

Valuable Miami Heat Betting Trends

The Miami Heat are 12-13-0 against the spread

The Miami Heat are 14-10-0 against the over/under

Important Utah Jazz Betting Trends

The Utah Jazz are 13-14-0 against the spread

The Utah Jazz are 16-11-0 against the over/under

Key Miami Heat Injuries

12/11/18 C Hassan Whiteside Personal missed last game, is questionable Wednesday vs Utah
10/11/18 G Dion Waiters Ankle is out indefinitely

Key Utah Jazz Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Josh Richardson comes into this contest averaging 18.8 points per game while playing 35.0 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 3.9 rebounds per game and dishes out 3.4 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 41% while his free throw percentage currently sits at 85%. Hassan Whiteside averages 13.5 points per game in 26.9 minutes per contest this season. He averages 0.8 assists per contest and 13.7 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 52% for the year while his free throw percentage is 47%.

Player Spotlight

Joe Ingles averages 12.2 points per game while playing 31.6 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 3.9 rebounds per game and has 4.5 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 46% and his free throw percentage is at 67%. Donovan Mitchell averages 20.8 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 32.2 minutes per contest. He also averages 3.0 rebounds per contest and 3.3 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 42% and his free throw percentage is 81%.

Useful Team Statistics

Miami averages 108.1 points per contest this season, which ranks them 22nd in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is -0.4 and their shooting percentage is 44% as a team, which has them ranked 29th. Behind the arc they shoot 36% which is good for 8th in the league. They average 47.8 rebounds per game and 22.7 assists per game, which ranks them 4th and 22nd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 9th with 14.9 per game. The Heat allow 108.5 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 10th in the league. They also allow a 44% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the arc, ranking them 7th and 22nd in those defensive categories. Opponents average 45.9 rebounds a game which ranks 18th and they give up 21.7 assists per contest, which puts them in 5th place in the league. They force 14.0 turnovers per game which ranks them 11th in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Utah is 24th in the league with 107.3 points per game this year. They are 9th in the league in shooting at 47%, while their average scoring margin is -0.6. They shoot 33% from 3-point range, which is good for 26th in the NBA. They are 24th in the league in rebounding with 42.9 boards per game, and 12th in assists per contest with 24.4. The Jazz are 6th in turnovers per game with 15.4. The Jazz surrender 107.8 points per contest, which ranks them 7th in the NBA. Their defense allows a 47% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 25th and 17th in those defensive statistics. They rank 6th with 21.9 assists allowed per contest and 5th with 42.4 rebounds surrendered per game. The Jazz are 22nd in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 14.9 per game.

Advanced Statistics

The Heat are 23rd in the league in defensive rating with 107.9, and their offensive rating of 107.6 is ranked 9th. They are 11th in the NBA in pace with 100.1 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 50% is 26th. As a unit they are 27th in the league in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 37% of their shot attempts, ranking 9th in the NBA. Miami is 11th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.8 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.3 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 51%, which is 24th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Utah is 5th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.5 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 53%, which is 11th in the NBA. The Jazz are 21st in the league in defensive rating with 108.5, and their offensive rating of 107.9 is ranked 12th. They are 20th in the NBA in pace with 99.4 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 9th. As a unit they are 9th in the league in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 38% of their shot attempts, ranking 8th in the NBA.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Miami +5.5

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