Heat Defense Poses Challenge To Young Hornets
The Charlotte Hornets look to make it back-to-back wins against projected playoff teams after the All-Star break. The Miami Heat know it is a game they need to win in a tightly contested Eastern Conference.
Their defense has been a strong suit all season and will need to again be the calling card despite their offensive inefficiencies. The NBA scores and odds seem to agree.
Miami in Perfect Spot
The Miami Heat will be without starting point guard Kyle Lowry for an indefinite amount of time due to a knee injury. They also added Kevin Love off the buyout market. They desperately need offense if they’re going to make a playoff run.
The Heat are last in the league in scoring 108.2 points per game, second last in making 45.1% of field goal attempts, and third last in making 33.2% of 3-point shots. Yet they are third with an 82.6% free throw conversion rate.
Miami is second defensively, holding teams to 108.6 points per game, 19th in allowing teams to make 47.7% of field goal attempts, and 21st in allowing teams to make 36.8% of 3-point shots. Part of that is the slower pace they play since the defensive efficiency is not great, and an inefficient offense is problematic.
The Heat are 22-36-2 against the spread and 28-32 on over/unders. They are 13-18 straight up on the road.
Hornets Look To Control Tempo
The Charlotte Hornets have not fared well, and Las Vegas odds have taken notice. They are 26-32-3 against the spread and 29-31-3 on over/unders. Worse yet, they are home underdogs while sporting a 9-18 straight-up record at home.
Charlotte’s better unit is the offense, which ranks 23rd in scoring 112.6 points per game, 27th in making 45.5% of field goal attempts, second last in making 32.6% of 3-point shots, and 27th in making 74.7% of free throw attempts.
Defensively, the Hornets are 28th in allowing 118.8 points per game but are 24th in holding teams to 48.0% on field goal attempts and 20th in limiting them to 36.7% on 3-point shots.
LaMelo Ball has proven to be a quality leader, but the pieces around him do not seem to fit best. Since a coaching change has already been made, it will be interesting to see the changes in the offseason.
Heat vs Hornets Game Injuries
Heat vs Hornets Head-to-Head
The Hornets won the last time out against the Heat, 122-117, on Jan. 29 on their home court. That win snapped a string of seven straight wins by Miami previously in the series.
Heat vs Hornets Game Information
- Game: Heat (32-28) vs Hornets (18-43)
- Location: Spectrum Center
- Day/Time: Saturday, 7 p.m. ET
- Heat vs Hornets Live Stream: NBA Game Pass
Heat vs Hornets Betting Lines
Heat vs Hornets Picks & Prediction
NBA free picks may side with the Miami Heat. Even if they dictate a slower tempo against the Charlotte Hornets, there is no guarantee they will win because they are not the most efficient team on the defensive end.
Both teams are traveling from the Midwest and will be playing in the second game of a back-to-back, so there is not a true advantage in rest or travel. The teams are taking different streaks entering the game, with the Heat losers of three straight and the Hornets winners of three straight.
The Heat clearly have the better overall talent and chemistry, but playing on the road on consecutive days is a difficult spot to be in. They are not efficient on either end of the floor, which surely favors an inconsistent Hornets team.
With the Hornets on a little bit of a roll, we will take them to cover and win outright on their home floor.
The Miami Heat are listed at -220 in our Vegas Lines. This means that if you wager $100 on the Heat, you have a chance to win $45. The Charlotte Hornets are +180, offering a chance to win $180.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines give the Heat a 68.75% chance to win, with the Hornets at 35.71%.
Heat vs Hornets Trends
Heat vs Hornets Edge
Heat vs Hornets Results
Heat vs Hornets Game Summary
Heat vs Hornets Previous Game (Jan. 29 2023)
The Miami Heat are starting to put it all together after an inconsistent start. They have won three straight games and seven out of their last nine overall.
They should be able to continue to build as they take on the Charlotte Hornets. The Hornets are off a nice win over the Chicago Bulls on Thursday but they have still lost 7 of their last 10 games.
Will this game play out as the oddsmakers expect on the NBA odds or is there value with the underdog for those who bet online?
