Indiana Pacers vs Miami Heat Prediction, 1/2/2025 Preview and Pick

Game: Indiana Pacers vs Miami Heat

Date: Thursday, January 2, 2025

Location: Kaseya Center in Miami, FL

TV: FanDuel Sports Network

The Indiana Pacers (16-17) are traveling to Kaseya Center on Thursday where they will go up against the Miami Heat (16-14).

The Pacers faced off with the Celtics and took home the win by a score of 123-114 in their last game. Indiana wrapped up the contest having earned a 52.9% FG percentage (46 of 87) and made 9 of their 23 three-point shots. From the free throw line, the Pacers made 22 of 27 shots for a rate of 81.5%. When talking about pulling down rebounds, they compiled 50 with 11 of them being of the offensive variety. They also recorded 27 assists in this contest in addition to forcing 8 turnovers and getting 6 steals. In reference to defending, Indiana let their opponent shoot 46.2% from the floor on 43 of 93 shooting. Boston distributed 26 assists and had 6 steals in this game. Moreover, Boston pulled down 41 rebounds (8 offensive, 33 defensive) and added 2 rejections. Boston ended up going 63.2% at the free throw line by burying 12 of their 19 shots. They buried 16 of their 54 tries from 3-point range. In regard to personal fouls, the Pacers left the arena with 17 and the Celtics recorded 22 personal fouls.

Tyrese Haliburton is a player who was important in the game. He totaled 31 points on 11 of 19 shooting. He saw the court for 36 minutes played and collected 6 boards. Haliburton finished the game at 57.9% from the floor and recorded 7 assists.

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Indiana comes into this contest with a record of 16-17 for the season. They currently have an average of 114.7 points per contest (11th in basketball) while hitting 48.8% from the floor. The Pacers are connecting on 37.3% on 3-pointers (418 of 1,120) and 78.9% from the charity stripe. As a unit, Indiana is grabbing 41.1 rebounds per contest and has accounted for 919 dimes for the season, which ranks 6th in the league in terms of passing the ball. They are turning it over 14.2 times per contest and as a squad are committing 19.8 fouls per game.

On defense, the Pacers are forcing their opponents into 14.2 turnovers per contest and they draw 18.6 personal fouls. They are giving up 36.1% on three-point shots while they are 22nd in the league in points per game allowed (116.8). The Pacers defensively are giving up a shooting percentage of 47.5% (1,396 of 2,938) and they relinquish 44.1 rebounds per contest as a basketball team. They currently rank 23rd in the league in allowing assists to their opponents with 854 conceded for the campaign.

When they last played, the Heat took home the win by a final score of 104-100 when they faced the Rockets. In regard to team rebounding, Miami permitted Houston to collect 52 in all (19 offensive). They shot 32.5% from 3-point land by hitting 13 of 40 and walked away from this one shooting 11 out of 13 from the free throw line (84.6%). The Heat allowed the Rockets to make 38 of their 97 attempts from the field which gave them a percentage of 39.2% in the matchup. When the final whistle blew, the Heat shot 37 for 84 from the field which had them shooting 44.0%. Regarding shots from beyond the arc, Miami converted 10 out of 33 tries (30.3%). They were able to convert 20 of the free throw attempts for a rate of 71.4%. The Rockets were called for 21 personal fouls for this game which took the Heat to the charity stripe for 28 shots. They turned it over 15 times, while recording 6 steals in the game. The Heat snagged 37 defensive rebounds and 15 offensive rebounds totaling 52 in this contest.

Tyler Herro was important for the Heat in this contest. He made 10 out of 17 in this game giving him a rate of 58.8%, and had 6 rebounds. Herro earned 27 points in his 37 mins on the hardwood and had 9 assists for the matchup.

Miami has a win-loss record of 16-14 on the year. The Heat are responsible for committing 16.7 personal fouls per game while shooting 78.4% from the charity stripe. Their rate of dishing out assists is at 25.4 times per contest (17th in the league) and they are giving up possession 13.5 times per game. Miami has accounted for 3,331 points this season (111.0 per game) and they pull in 43.5 rebounds per contest. In terms of offensive execution, the Heat are shooting 45.2% from the floor, which is 21st in basketball.

The Heat on the defensive side of the court are 6th in basketball in points given up per game with 108.7. They are able to force 15.3 TO's per game and have allowed teams to shoot 45.9% from the floor (12th in the league). The Miami defense gives up 36.0% from downtown (403 of 1,119) and their opponents are knocking down 80.5% of their shots from the charity stripe. They have conceded 26.4 assists and 45.5 rebounds every game, which ranks them 19th and 25th in the NBA.

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

Tony Sink's Pick: Take Indiana

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