Preview, Prediction and Betting Picks

The Miami Heat step into Staples Center, seeking to claim another statement win against another championship contender. The Los Angeles Lakers, meanwhile, will try to build on a hard-earned overtime win last Monday.

BetUS has posted and updated the odds for Wednesday’s ballgame, 10 PM EST, between the Heat and the Lakers. Miami opened as a five-point road favorite and will head into the match just so since the Lakers will still be playing sans LeBron James for the fourth straight game.

Miami Heat vs Los Angeles Lakers betting lines and odds

ATS: Heat -5

Moneyline: Heat –200, Lakers +170

O/U: 215.5 points

Miami Heat vs Los Angeles Lakers Team News

The Miami is coming off a chippy battle against the Denver Nuggets last Monday, which saw Markieff Morris ($50K) and Jimmy Butler ($30K) on Miami’s side and Nikola Jokic (one-game suspension) on Denver’s assessed with penalties by the NBA due to their involvement in an on-court skirmish late in the game. The altercation happened with 2:39 remaining in Miami’s 113-96 loss to Nuggets. Morris checked Jokic with a stiff arm on his ribs, which caused the Serbian to retaliate with a violent body slam that sent the Heat forward to the floor. Both teams to try to appease the situation, but Jimmy Butler seemed to instigate by calling out Jokic to continue the fight in the hallway.

Alex Caruso on “The Old Man and the Three” podcast with JJ Redick that the Lakers had a real shot at keeping him had he received a competitive offer from them in the offseason. The shooting guard and Lakers’ fan-favorite said his agent even asked the Lakers to match the four-year, $37 million offer from the Bulls, but the Lakers decided to stick with the initial offer of two-year, $15 million.

“Essentially we got that offer, went back to L.A., asked if they could do the same, they said ‘no,’” Caruso went on. “Asked for something else that was a little less, they said ‘no.’ So I said ‘OK, if that’s what it comes to, I’m ready to go to Chicago and start the next chapter.’ It’s been great. I think it’s been a great decision for me.”

Miami Heat vs. Los Angeles Lakers Injury Report

Heat: PJ Tucker – Questionable (Shoulder), Marcus Morris – OUT (Neck), Victor Oladipo – OUT (Knee), Bam Adebayo – Questionable (Knee), Tyler Herro – Questionable (Back), Max Strus – OUT (Knee), Caleb Martin – Probable (Thumb).

Lakers: Rajon Rondo – Questionable (Hamstring), Trevor Ariza – OUT (Ankle), LeBron James – OUT (Abdominal Strain), Anthony Davis – Probable (Thumb), Kendrick Nunn – OUT (Knee), Talen Horton-Tucker – OUT (Thumb), Austin Reeves – Questionable (Hamstring).

Miami Heat vs Los Angeles Lakers Preview

After a scintillating 6-1 start, Miami found itself in a cluster with other elite teams in the Eastern Conference after losing two of its last three games. Miami got contrasting results in their last two home games, where it suffered a blowout loss to the Celtics, 95-78, and punched a solid win against a really good Jazz team, 118-115. Jimmy Butler has been the most consistent performer for the Heat over that stretch, averaging 26.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG and 5.3 APG.

On the other hand, the Lakers dropped their first two games since losing LeBron to an abdominal strain but gutted out an overtime win, 126-123, against the up-and-coming Hornets. To start the season, Carmelo Anthony continued his torrid shooting, knocking down seven of his ten three-point attempts. The former scoring champion converted most of his shots in the crucial minutes to finish with 29 points in 37 minutes of play off the bench. Anthony Davis racked up 32 points and 12 rebounds while Russel Westbrook continues to pad his triple-double record after posting 17 points, 12 rebounds, and 14 assists.

Miami Heat vs Los Angeles Lakers Prediction

If the Lakers proved something in their game against the Hornets, it is that they can win some games without LeBron James. It’s safe to say the Lakers should have won a lot more, if not to injuries. Los Angeles is stacked with top talent from top to bottom, and it will be just a matter of time before they start dominating again.

That’s said, the Heat come as the slight favorite as they should since this team is no pushover either. Miami has emerged as a Darkhorse contender in the East, posing as a legitimate threat to every title favorites’ championship aspiration. This team has an enigmatic star in Butler, an ensemble of battle-tested veterans, and a head coach with a championship pedigree to get the job done.

The latest matchup between the Lakers and the Heat will be one of the exciting matches of a busy Wednesday schedule for the NBA. The Lakers will try to assert their presence in the early going and capitalize on their size advantage down low. On the other hand, the Heat will rely on their ball movement and stifling defense to stay within striking distance. In the final quarter, expect Jimmy Butler to begin asserting his presence more, creating plays for himself and his teammates. The Lakers should also look out for Herro, who has thrived this season playing off-ball and making them pay off double teams. In the end, I like the Heat’s chances of winning this game by double digits.