Possible Play-In Preview
In the Eastern Conference, for the most part, the teams in the play-in have already been fleshed out. Now it’s all about seeding. The Miami Heat are in sixth but tied with the seventh-placed team, and the Toronto Raptors are three games back, in ninth, tied for eighth. After the teams meet on Tuesday, each will only have six games left.
The Heat got blown out by the Brooklyn Nets, 129-100, on Saturday, which was a big game for Miami’s NBA playoff odds. In the Raptors’ last game, they beat the Washington Wizards 114-104 on Sunday behind a strong offensive night from OG Anunoby.
Heat Struggles Keep Mounting
NBA lines have continued to favor the Heat, despite them remaining one of the more difficult teams to bet on. Against the spread (ATS), they have the worst covering percentage at 37.5% but have been favored in nine straight games. Part of that is the team’s record is still solid, but they have gone 5-4 over the last nine games and 4-5 ATS.
However, the defense has seemingly collapsed recently. Miami has a top-10 defensive rating, but they have the fourth-highest over the last nine games. The defense has been the identity of this team all season, but that is no longer the case.
Haslem was NOT happy with the Heat’s 29-point loss 😳 pic.twitter.com/imlPVrPkMm
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 26, 2023
That was put on full display facing the Nets, who tore through the Heat’s defense for 129 points. Between the second and third quarters, Miami allowed 79 points. The display left the Heat legend and architect of “Heat Culture,” Udonis Haslem, dejected on the bench.
Usually, the Heat are a team known for close gritty wins and putting it together when it matters most. But this season, when it comes to sports betting, they have been one of the worst teams.
Raptors’ Upcoming Road Trip
The Raptors have put some distance between them and possibly dropping out of the play-in, which they will need. Toronto has a four-game lead over 11th place, getting ready for five straight on the road after facing the Heat. Four of their last six games will be against the top three teams in the East.
If the Raptors are going to have any success on this road trip to build momentum for the play-in, they will need to play at the same level it took to beat the Wizards. The starting lineup played well, combining for 101 points. However, the team is over-reliant on the starting five, and if they struggle, there is no depth on the bench.
OG Anunoby’s stats vs. Washington:
29 PTS | 4 3PT | 8 REB | 3 BLK | 1 STL@Raptors | #WeTheNorth pic.twitter.com/mT4ud9f0O3
— NBA Canada (@NBACanada) March 27, 2023
Anunoby was the headline for NBA news coming out of the win over the Wizards. He scored 29 points, with four 3s, eight rebounds, and three blocks. Anunoby has been inconsistent for most of the season, but if he could find his shooting stroke, that would be a game-changer.
The Raptors’ leading scorers, Fred VanVleet and Pascal Siakam, also had good games. VanVleet had 28 points and seven assists, while Siakam scored 19 and grabbed 11 rebounds.
Heat vs Raptors Game Injuries
Heat vs Raptors Head-to-Head
This is the fourth and final game between these teams, with the Heat winning the first but losing the next two. The Raptors covered all three games.
Heat vs Raptors Game Information
- Game: Heat (40-35) vs Raptors (37-38)
- Location: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON
- Day/Time: Tuesday, March 28, 7:30 p.m. EST
- Heat vs Raptors Live stream: NBA Game Pass
Heat vs Raptors Betting Lines
Heat vs Raptors Picks and Prediction
This is a crucial game for both teams, each needing a win. The Heat need to bounce back after a horrible loss and the Raptors need to put more space between them and 11th place before a tough last few games.
With the Raptors playing better and having covered against the Heat in the three games this season, it seems like a solid bet that will happen again for your NBA picks. The Heat are too unpredictable right now, while the Raptors starting lineup has been playing well.
The Toronto Raptors are listed at -160 in our Vegas NBA odds. This means that if you wager $100 on the Raptors, you have a chance to win $63. The Miami Heat is +140, offering a chance to win $140 on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives the Toronto Raptors a 61.54% chance to win, with the Miami Heat at 41.67%.
The odds and predictions in the article are based on the time of writing and publication. They may differ as to when the actual event takes place.
Heat vs Raptors Trends
Heat vs Raptors Edge
Heat vs Raptors Results
Heat vs Raptors Game Summary
Heat vs Raptors Previous Game (Nov 16, 2022)
The Toronto Raptors will defend their 5-1 home record on Wednesday night against the Miami Heat. Due to various injuries, the Raptors (8-7) have plummeted after a fast start, going 0-5 against the spread (ATS) over the last five games.
On the other hand, the Heat (7-7) have won three in a row, but they are 3-11 ATS. Who will finally cover in Wednesday’s anticipated matchup?
The Raptors will be lacking a lot of scoring. Miami matches up well in this game, with or without Herro. Adebayo scored only 10 and 14 points against Toronto earlier in the season. However, Toronto will be without Siakam and Achiuwa, two key defenders in the painted area. Adebayo is poised for another huge game. Take the Heat to cover and win.
As mentioned, Toronto has gone over three of the last four. Plus, Miami hit the over in four consecutive games. Neither defense is playing well, allowing over 110 points in three straight games. The over seems inevitable.
