Miami Heat at Oklahoma City Thunder Expert NBA Picks Against the Spread 3/18/2019

Monday, March 18, 2019

Chesapeake Energy Arena

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Miami Heat travel to Chesapeake Energy Arena to play the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday, March 18, 2019. The opening line for this matchup has Oklahoma City as 3 point favorites.

The Heat have a record of 32-36. They are 1st in the Southeast Division. They have a point differential of -0.2 as they average 105.9 points per game while giving up 106.2 per contest. The Thunder have an overall mark of 42-28. They currently are 3rd in the Northwest Division. They total 114.6 points per contest and give up 110.8, which is a point differential of 3.7.

Valuable Miami Heat Betting Trends

The Miami Heat are 35-32-1 against the spread

The Miami Heat are 35-32-0 against the over/under

Important Oklahoma City Thunder Betting Trends

The Oklahoma City Thunder are 36-34-0 against the spread

The Oklahoma City Thunder are 32-37-0 against the over/under

Key Miami Heat Injuries

03/16/19 SF Justise Winslow Thigh injured last game, is questionable Sunday vs Charlotte
03/16/19 G Dwyane Wade Hip injured last game, is questionable Sunday vs Charlotte

Key Oklahoma City Thunder Injuries

10/04/18 G Andre Roberson Knee is out indefinitely
03/16/19 PG Russell Westbrook Suspension is out Monday vs Miami

Player Spotlight

Josh Richardson comes into this contest averaging 17.1 points per game while playing 34.7 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 3.6 rebounds per game and dishes out 4.0 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 42% while his free throw percentage currently sits at 86%. Justise Winslow averages 12.7 points per game in 29.7 minutes per contest this season. He averages 4.3 assists per contest and 5.4 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 44% for the year while his free throw percentage is 63%.

Player Spotlight

Steven Adams averages 14.3 points per game while playing 33.8 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 9.6 rebounds per game and has 1.6 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 60% and his free throw percentage is at 52%. Paul George averages 28.3 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 36.6 minutes per contest. He also averages 8.2 rebounds per contest and 4.2 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 44% and his free throw percentage is 84%.

Useful Team Statistics

Miami averages 105.9 points per contest this season, which ranks them 25th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is -0.2 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a team, which has them ranked 20th. Behind the arc they shoot 36% which is good for 12th in the league. They average 46.1 rebounds per game and 24.0 assists per game, which ranks them 10th and 17th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 7th with 15.0 per game. The Heat allow 106.2 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 3rd in the league. They also allow a 45% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the arc, ranking them 2nd and 24th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 43.2 rebounds a game which ranks 3rd and they give up 23.1 assists per contest, which puts them in 4th place in the league. They force 14.1 turnovers per game which ranks them 19th in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Oklahoma City is 7th in the league with 114.6 points per game this year. They are 19th in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 3.7. They shoot 35% from 3-point range, which is good for 24th in the NBA. They are 2nd in the league in rebounding with 48.2 boards per game, and 23rd in assists per contest with 23.0. The Thunder are 15th in turnovers per game with 14.1. The Thunder surrender 110.8 points per contest, which ranks them 15th in the NBA. Their defense allows a 46% shooting percentage and a 35% average from 3-point range, ranking them 15th and 13th in those defensive statistics. They rank 19th with 24.8 assists allowed per contest and 23rd with 45.9 rebounds surrendered per game. The Thunder are 30th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 17.0 per game.

Advanced Statistics

The Heat are 22nd in the league in defensive rating with 108, and their offensive rating of 107.8 is ranked 8th. They are 24th in the NBA in pace with 98.1 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 20th. 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 13th in the NBA. Miami is 5th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.8 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 51%, which is 22nd in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Oklahoma City is 25th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.6 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 52%, which is 16th in the league. The Thunder are 16th in the NBA in offensive rating with 109.9, and their defensive rating of 106.3 is ranked 4th. In terms of pace they are 4th in the league with 103.3 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 51% is 23rd. As a team they are 26th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 34% of their shots, ranking 18th in the league.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Oklahoma City -3

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