Miami Heat vs Phoenix Suns Prediction, 1/5/2024 Preview and Pick

Game: Miami Heat vs Phoenix Suns

Date: Friday, January 5, 2024

Location: Footprint Center in Phoenix, AZ

TV: AZ Family Sports Network

Footprint Center is the site where the Phoenix Suns (18-16) will attempt to beat the Miami Heat (20-14) on Friday.

The Heat played the Lakers and went home with a win by a final score of 110-96 in their last contest. Miami walked away from the contest with a 44.1% field goal percentage (41 of 93) and knocked down 16 of their 42 shots from beyond the perimeter. From the free throw line, the Heat converted 12 of their 17 shots for a rate of 70.6%. With regard to grabbing rebounds, they earned 39 with 7 of them being offensive. They also distributed 30 dimes in this matchup in addition to forcing the other team into 21 turnovers and having 14 steals. With respect to defense, Miami allowed 42.2% from the floor on 35 of 83 shooting. Los Angeles doled out 29 dimes and had 3 steals in this contest. Moreover, Los Angeles snagged 50 rebounds (9 offensive, 41 defensive) and had 3 blocked shots. Los Angeles walked away from this one shooting 91.7% at the charity stripe by knocking down 22 of their 24 attempts. They converted 4 of their 30 tries from 3-point land. In the matter of personal fouls, the Heat left the arena with 23 while the Lakers totaled 14 personal fouls.

Tyler Herro is one player who was a contributor in this matchup. He ended up finishing with 21 points on 7 out of 19 shooting. He played 28 mins and also totaled 6 boards. Herro finished the contest at 36.8% from the field and also recorded 4 assists.

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Miami comes into this game with a win-loss mark of 20-14 on the season. They are averaging 112.9 pts per game (23rd in basketball) while going 47.0% from the floor. The Heat are shooting 38.8% on shots from distance (437 of 1,127) and 82.2% from the free throw line. As a unit, Miami is collecting 41.3 boards per game and is sitting with 887 assists on the season, which has them ranked 14th in the league in terms of passing. They turn it over 13.2 times per contest and as a group they commit 18.8 personal fouls every game.

On the defensive end, the Heat are forcing 14.6 turnovers per game and they draw 20.3 fouls. They give up 36.5% on 3-pointers and they are 6th in basketball in points per game from their opponents (111.5). The Heat are giving up a FG percentage of 47.9% (1,399 of 2,919) and they concede 42.3 rebounds per contest as a squad. They are ranked 20th in the NBA in giving up assists to their opponents with 910 relinquished so far this season.

When they last stepped on the court, the Suns went home defeated by a final of 131-122 when they played the Clippers. In the matter of rebounding, Phoenix permitted Los Angeles to collect 36 in total (10 offensive). They finished 52.9% from three-point range by going 18 of 34 and ended up going 29 out of 32 from the free throw line (90.6%). The Suns permitted the Clippers to convert 42 of their 76 tries from the floor which gave them a percentage of 55.3% for the contest. Overall, the Suns finished 42 for 79 from the field which had them shooting 53.2%. With respect to 3-point attempts, Phoenix knocked down 15 out of 35 attempts (42.9%). They were able to bury 23 of the free throw tries for a percentage of 88.5%. The Clippers committed 18 personal fouls for this game which took the Suns to the free throw line for a total of 26 attempts. They coughed up the ball 16 times, while earning 9 steals in the game. The Suns collected 22 defensive boards and 10 offensive rebounds for a total of 32 in the game.

Devin Booker ended up having an impact for the Suns for the game. Booker tallied 35 points in his 37 mins of playing time and accumulated 6 dimes for the game. He made 11 out of 15 for the matchup giving him a field goal percentage of 73.3%, and added 2 rebounds.

Phoenix has a mark of 18-16 on the year. On the offensive side of the ball, the Suns are connecting on 48.0% from the floor, which is ranked 12th in the league. Phoenix has scored 3,925 pts this year (115.4 per game) and they grab 43.5 boards per game. They are dishing out assists 26.0 times per contest (18th in the NBA) and they turn it over 14.9 times per game. The Suns have committed 18.9 fouls per game and they shoot 82.4% from the free throw line.

The Phoenix defense allows 36.6% on shots from 3-point land (431 of 1,176) and their opponents are making 80.1% of their shots from the free throw line. They have relinquished 25.1 dimes and 40.4 rebounds every game, which has them ranked 8th and 1st in the NBA. The Suns defensively are ranked 15th in the league in points allowed per game with 114.1. They are forcing 12.5 turnovers per game and allow teams to shoot 46.5% from the floor (11th in basketball).

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

Tony Sink's Pick: Take Miami

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