NBA Odds: Heat-Knicks prediction, pick, how to watch
The Miami Heat will travel to take on the New York Knicks in an NBA game Thursday night in historic Madison Square Garden. That said, now is a great time to check out our NBA odds series, which includes a Heat-Knicks prediction and pick, featured below.
Miami is poised to make a playoff run, going 29-23, good for sixth place in the Eastern Conference. Miami has won seven of its last 10 games to move up the standings. Head Coach Erik Spoelstra continued his winning road in charge of the Heat.
New York went 27-25, seventh in the Eastern Conference, in the third year under Tom Thibodeau, who guided the team to the playoffs in its freshman season. The Knicks are currently on a two-game losing streak, which immediately followed a brief two-game winning streak.
Here are the Heat-Knicks’ NBA odds, courtesy of FanDuel
NBA Odds: Heat-Knicks Odds
Miami Heat: -2 (-106)
New York Knicks: +2 (-114)
Plus: 215.5 (-110)
Minus: 215.5 (-110)
How to watch Heat vs. Knicks
Television: Bally Sports Sun, MSG Network
Streams: NBA, NBA League Pass
Time: 7:40 p.m. ET / 4:40 p.m. PT
*Watch LIVE NBA games with fuboTV (click for free trial)*
Why heat could cover the spread
Jimmy Butler leads the team with 22.0 points per game, dominating the offensive side of the ball for Miami. Ba, Adebayo is averaging a double-double, averaging 21.4 points and 10.0 rebounds per game. Butler leads the team with 2.1 steals and ranks second with 4.9 assists per game. Tyler Herro shot 37.2 percent from behind the 3-point line and ranks third on the team with 20.2 points per game. Kyle Lowry leads the team with 5.3 assists per game, also scoring 12.2 points per game. Max Strus and Victor Oladipo also have double-digit point averages, with 12.4 and 11.2 points per game, respectively. Oladipo also averaged 1.7 steals per game.
Miami ranks third in the league with 8.5 steals, but New York is great at limiting turnovers. Miami turned the ball over just 13.5 times per game, ranking fifth in the league. The Heat aren’t scoring much, ranking last in the league with 108.5 points per game. The team’s success hinges on its defense, which has held opponents to 108.2 points per game, second in the league.
Why the Knicks could cover the spread
Julius Randle leads the team with 24.7 points and 10.9 rebounds per game, the only Knick to achieve a double-double. Randle shot 45.8% from the field, also taking the most shots per game on the team. Jalen Brunson, the team’s big free agent this offseason after missing out on Donovan Mitchell, scored 22.8 points while delivering a team-leading 6.2 assists per game. Randle and Brunson’s combo turned out to be a solid option.
New York doesn’t distribute the ball too well, ranking 28th in assists. The good news for New York is that their leading scorers are working to create their own shots. RJ Barrett, Duke’s former third overall pick, averaged 20.1 points per game on 43.3 percent shooting. Barrett’s three-point shooting has suffered this season, but raising that number closer to his career average will likely increase his goal production. Immanuel Quickley, mostly coming off the bench in his 42 appearances, has averaged 12.7 points per game.
New York ranks third in the league with 47.3 rebounds per game, while Miami allows only 42.2 per game. New York’s offense is pretty average, ranking 14th with 114.4 points per game. The defense has been terrific lately, ranking 12th in giving up 112.7 points per game.
Heat-Knicks final prediction and selection
Mecca provides stability for the Knicks in this one.
Final Heat-Knicks prediction and selection: New York +2 (-114), under 215.5 (-110)