Heat vs Thunder 1/17/2020 NBA Prediction, Pick, Tips

Game: Miami Heat vs Oklahoma City Thunder

Date: Friday, January 17, 2020

Location: Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, OK

TV: Fox Sports Oklahoma

Odds/Point Spread: Oklahoma City -1.5

Total/Over-Under: 222

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder (23-18, 3rd in the Northwest Division) play the Miami Heat (28-12, 1st in the Southeast Division) at Chesapeake Energy Arena on Friday, January 17, 2020. The spread on this matchup has Oklahoma City as 1.5 point favorites. The over/under opens at 222.

The Heat are covering the spread 60.5% of the time, having gone 23-15-2 ATS. Oklahoma City covers the spread 65.8% of the time, going 27-14-0 against the spread.

Key Miami Heat Injuries

01/15/20 SG Tyler Herro Knee is questionable Friday vs Oklahoma City
01/13/20 SF Justise Winslow Back is out indefinitely

Key Oklahoma City Thunder Injuries

01/16/20 C Steven Adams Knee left last game, is questionable Friday vs Miami
01/15/20 SF Abdel Nader Ankle is questionable Friday vs Miami
01/15/20 C Nerlens Noel Ankle is questionable Friday vs Miami

Player Spotlight

Kendrick Nunn comes into this contest averaging 15.9 points per game while playing 30.2 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 2.7 rebounds per game and dishes out 3.6 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 46% while his free throw percentage currently sits at 80%. Jimmy Butler averages 20.5 points per game in 35.1 minutes per contest this season. He averages 6.4 assists per contest and 6.9 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 45% for the year while his free throw percentage is 82%.

Player Spotlight

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander averages 20.0 points per game while playing 35.4 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 5.7 rebounds per game and has 3.0 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage is at 82%. Chris Paul averages 16.5 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 31.9 minutes per contest. He also averages 5.0 rebounds per contest and 6.5 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage is 90%.

Useful Team Statistics

Miami averages 111.6 points per contest this season, which ranks them 12th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 3.8 and their shooting percentage is 47% as a team, which has them ranked 3rd. Behind the arc they shoot 38% which is good for 2nd in the league. They average 45.5 rebounds per game and 25.2 assists per game, which ranks them 16th and 11th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 4th with 15.9 per game. The Heat allow 107.8 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 11th in the league. They also allow a 45% shooting percentage and a 33% average from behind the arc, ranking them 10th and 1st in those defensive categories. Opponents average 41.7 rebounds a game which ranks 2nd and they give up 24.1 assists per contest, which puts them in 16th place in the league. They force 13.8 turnovers per game which ranks them 7th in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Oklahoma City is 18th in the league with 109.4 points per game this year. They are 9th in the league in shooting at 47%, while their average scoring margin is 1.6. They shoot 34% from 3-point range, which is good for 22nd in the NBA. They are 24th in the league in rebounding with 43.4 boards per game, and 26th in assists per contest with 21.7. The Thunder are 21st in turnovers per game with 14.0. The Thunder surrender 107.9 points per contest, which ranks them 12th in the NBA. Their defense allows a 46% shooting percentage and a 35% average from 3-point range, ranking them 16th and 14th in those defensive statistics. They rank 5th with 22.8 assists allowed per contest and 11th with 44.7 rebounds surrendered per game. The Thunder are 11th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 14.3 per game.

Advanced Statistics

The Heat are 7th in the NBA in offensive rating with 111.6, and their defensive rating of 107.9 is ranked 13th. In terms of pace they are 25th in the league with 98.4 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 55% is 3rd. As a team they are 1st in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 59% and they shoot 3-pointers on 40% of their shots, ranking 9th in the league. Miami is 2nd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.3 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.4 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 51%, which is 19th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Oklahoma City is 19th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.7 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 52%, which is 17th in the NBA. The Thunder are 14th in the league in defensive rating with 108.4, and their offensive rating of 110 is ranked 14th. They are 24th in the NBA in pace with 98.5 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 13th. As a unit they are 8th in the league in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shot attempts, ranking 21st in the NBA.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Miami +1.5

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