Miami Heat at Washington Wizards NBA Picks & Predictions 10/18/2018

Thursday, October 18, 2018

Capital One Arena

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Miami Heat head to Capital One Arena to take on the Washington Wizards on Thursday, October 18, 2018. The opening line for this game has Washington as 5 point favorites.

The Heat come into this game after finishing last season with an overall record of 44-38. They were 1st in the Southeast Division. They had a point differential of 0.5 as they averaged 103.4 points per game while giving up 102.9 per contest. The Wizards had an overall record of 43-39 last season. They were 2nd in the Southeast Division. They averaged 106.6 points per game and surrendered 106.0, good for a point differential of 0.6.

Valuable Miami Heat Betting Trends

The Miami Heat were 42-41-4 against the spread last season

The Miami Heat were 39-45-0 against the over/under last year

Important Washington Wizards Betting Trends

The Washington Wizards were 38-48-2 against the spread last season

The Washington Wizards were 40-46-0 against the over/under last year

Key Miami Heat Injuries

10/17/18 G Wayne Ellington Ankle is out Wednesday vs Orlando
10/16/18 F James Johnson Hernia is downgraded to out Wednesday vs Orlando
10/16/18 SF Justise Winslow Hamstring is doubtful Wednesday vs Orlando
10/11/18 G Dion Waiters Ankle is out indefinitely
10/11/18 G Goran Dragic Knee is probable Wednesday vs Orlando

Key Washington Wizards Injuries

10/17/18 C Dwight Howard Buttocks is questionable Thursday vs Miami

Player Spotlight

Goran Dragic comes into this game after averaging 17.3 points per contest while playing 31.7 minutes per night last year. He grabbed 4.1 rebounds per contest and distributed 4.8 assists per game. His FG percentage was 45% while his free throw percentage was 80%. Hassan Whiteside averaged 14.0 points per contest in 25.3 minutes per game last year. He averaged 1.0 assists per game and 11.4 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage was 54% for the season while his free throw percentage was 70%.

Player Spotlight

John Wall scored 19.4 points per contest while playing 34.4 minutes per game last season. He hauled in 3.7 rebounds per contest and had 9.6 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage was 42% and his free throw percentage finished at 73%. Bradley Beal averaged 22.6 points per game last year and he saw the court an average of 36.3 minutes per game. He also brought in 4.4 rebounds per game and had 4.5 assists per contest. His field goal percentage was 46% and his free throw percentage was 79%.

Useful Team Statistics

Miami averaged 103.4 points per contest last year, which was 23rd in the league. Their average scoring margin was 0.5 and their shooting percentage was 46% as a unit, which had them ranked 17th. From 3-point territory they shot 36%, which was good for 15th in the NBA. They averaged 43.5 boards per contest and 22.7 assists per game, which ranked them 18th and 17th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they were 15th with 14.4 per game. The Heat allowed 102.9 points per contest, which was 4th in the NBA. They also surrendered a 45% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 7th and 13th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents averaged 43.1 rebounds a game which ranked 15th, and they allowed 21.0 assists per game which put them in 3rd place in the league. They forced 14.1 turnovers per game which ranked them 13th in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

Washington was 13th in the NBA with 106.6 points per contest last season. They were 11th in the league in shooting at 47%, while their average scoring margin was 0.59. They shot 38% from beyond the arc, which was good for 3rd in the league. They were 21st in the NBA in rebounding with 43.1 boards per contest and 4th in assists per game with 25.2. The Wizards were 13th in turnovers per contest with 14.6. The Wizards gave up 106.0 points per game, which ranked them 15th in the league. Their defense surrendered a 46% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 15th and 6th in those defensive statistics. They ranked 10th with 22.3 dimes allowed per game and 10th with 42.5 boards surrendered per contest. The Wizards were 24th in the league in forcing turnovers with 14.9 per contest last year.

Advanced Statistics

The Heat were 22nd in the NBA in offensive rating with 106.8, and their defensive rating of 106.3 was ranked 7th last season. In terms of pace they were 26th in the league with 95.6 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% was 14th. As a team they were 16th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shot 3 pointers on 36% of their shots, ranking 7th in the league. Miami was 11th in turnovers, as they turned the ball over an average of 13.3 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.1 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season was 51%, which was 23rd in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Washington was 12th in the league in turnovers, as they turned the ball over an average of 13.3 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.6 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year was 52%, which was 17th in the NBA. The Wizards were 14th in the league in defensive rating with 108.7, and their offensive rating of 109.3 was ranked 15th. They were 18th in the NBA in pace with 96.6 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% was 12th. As a unit they were 12th in the league in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shot 3-pointers on 31% of their shot attempts, ranking 24th in the NBA.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Miami +5

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