Cleveland Cavaliers vs Miami Heat Prediction, 3/16/2021 NBA Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Cleveland Cavaliers vs Miami Heat

Date: Tuesday, March 16, 2021

Location: AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami, FL

TV: Fox Sports Sun

Odds/Point Spread: Cleveland (+5.5)

The Cleveland Cavaliers (14-24) travel to AmericanAirlines Arena on Tuesday where they'll meet the Miami Heat (21-18). Cleveland opens this contest as 5.5-point dogs. The over/under opens at 223.

The Cleveland Cavaliers took the court against the Atlanta Hawks and walked away from this one with a loss by a score of 100-82 in their last game. Cleveland finished having earned a 38.3% field goal percentage (31 of 81) and made 8 out of their 30 3-pointers. At the free throw line, the Cavaliers converted 12 of their 23 tries for a percentage of 52.2%. In reference to rebounding, they collected 34 with 14 of them being of the offensive sort. They also doled out 19 assists for this game as well as forcing 15 turnovers and earning 4 steals. In terms of defense, Cleveland allowed their opponent to shoot 45.7% from the field on 32 of 70 shooting. Atlanta recorded 21 assists and had 4 steals in the game. Additionally, Atlanta grabbed 48 boards (11 offensive, 37 defensive) and got 5 blocked shots. Atlanta finished 92.3% when shooting free throws by making 24 of 26 tries. They knocked down 12 of their 29 tries from beyond the arc.

Collin Sexton is a guy who was a major contributor in this matchup. He scored 15 points on 5 of 17 shooting. He played 28:30 mins and totaled 2 boards. Sexton finished shooting 29.4% from the floor and also recorded 1 assist. One more player that was a major contributor in this contest for the Cavaliers was Darius Garland. He collected 1 rebound in 29:27 minutes on the hardwood. He finished the game at 44.4% from the floor for the contest via 4-of-9 (11 points). When the final whistle was blown, Garland totaled 7 assists.

Cleveland heads into this contest with a record of 14-24 this year. They average 103.4 pts per contest (30th in the NBA) on 45.0% from the field. The Cavaliers are shooting 34.0% on shots from beyond the arc (356 of 1,048) and 72.0% from the charity stripe. As a unit, Cleveland is snagging 43.2 rebounds per game and has racked up 880 assists for the campaign, which has them ranked 24th in the NBA in terms of passing the ball. They turn the ball over 15.8 times per contest and as a team are committing 19.2 fouls per game. On the defensive end, the Cavaliers have forced 15.5 turnovers every game while drawing 20.1 fouls. They give up 39.6% on shots from distance and they are ranked 16th in basketball in opponents PPG (111.8). The Cavaliers are giving up an opponent shooting percentage of 48.1% (589 of 764) and they relinquish 43.4 rebounds per contest as a team. They rank 13th in the NBA in giving up assists to the opposition with 928 surrendered on the year.

In their last game, the Miami Heat walked away with a victory by a final of 102-97 against the Orlando Magic. The Heat corralled 33 defensive boards and 10 offensive rebounds for a total of 43 in this matchup. They turned the ball over 11 times, while recording 15 steals for the matchup. The Magic committed 18 fouls in this contest which took the Heat to the free throw line for a total of 15 attempts. They were able to make 14 of the free throw attempts for a rate of 93.3%. When it comes to shooting from 3-point land, Miami buried 14 out of their 50 attempts (28.0%). When the final whistle blew, the Heat finished shooting 37 out of 89 from the field which gave them a percentage of 41.6%. The Heat allowed the Magic to bury 33 out of 75 tries from the field which left them with a shooting percentage of 44.0% in the game. They went 40.0% from three-point range by connecting on 16 of 40 and finished the contest at 15 out of 21 at the charity stripe (71.4%). In the matter of cleaning the glass, Miami allowed Orlando to snag 45 overall (8 offensive).

Jimmy Butler pitched in for the Heat in the matchup. He converted 10 of 17 in the game for a field goal percentage of 58.8%, and had 7 rebounds. Butler earned 29 points in his 36:29 mins of playing time and had 9 dimes in this matchup. Another guy that ended up playing a role for Miami was Kelly Olynyk. He wrapped the game up with 4 assists in 34:11 mins on the court, and he shot 6 of 9 from the floor. Olynyk walked away from this one going 66.7% from the floor and also earning 18 points and 7 boards.

Miami has a win-loss record of 21-18 this year. Miami has totaled 4,159 points so far this season (106.6 per game) and they grab 42.4 boards per game. The Heat commit 19.3 fouls per contest and they hit 79.1% from the charity stripe. As an offensive team, the Heat are connecting on 46.1% from the floor, which is 18th in the NBA. Their rate of assisting teammates is at 25.9 times per contest (12th in the league) and they turn it over 15.3 times per contest. The Heat defensively are ranked 3rd in the league in points given up per game with 107.5. They give up 25.3 assists and 44.1 boards per game, which is ranked 21st and 16th in the league. The Miami defense surrenders 36.4% on three-point shots (577 of 1,586) and their opposition makes 79.0% of their shots from the free throw line. They are forcing 15.4 TO's every game and have let teams shoot 44.3% from the field (2nd in the league).

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

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Miami (-5.5)

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here