The Los Angeles Lakers are in Miami following a comfortable 129-110 win over the Orlando Magic last night. The Lakers really needed that one, as they were on the verge of losing five straight games. We have our Lakers vs. Heat predictions and best bets for tonight in Miami.
The Lakers were coming off an embarrassing collapse against the Dallas Mavericks on Christmas Day. With a double-digit lead going into halftime, the Lakers lost the third quarter by a staggering margin of 51-21.
A double-digit first-half lead turned into a 124-115 loss for the Lakers. Most of those 4th quarter points were garbage time with the game out of reach. LeBron James poured in 38 points, but the rest of the team did not respond well.
Got it done. pic.twitter.com/2IhfWDJETT
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) December 28, 2022
via@Lakers
James once again led the Lakers last night. He scored 28 points in the 19-point win. The 37-year-old veteran may not be on the floor for the Lakers tonight, though.
He is listed as questionable with an ankle injury. Along with the possibility of James being out of the game, the Heat could be without Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo. Adebayo is currently the most likely to play out of the three.
The Heat are coming off a 113-110 win without Butler and Adebayo against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Kyle Lowry and Max Straus both had big games in the winning effort on Monday.
Miami advanced to .500 on the season at 17-17, while the Lakers are 14-20 after their trip to Orlando. This could be a battle of depth deep on the bench in this one tonight.
Head below for our best Lakers vs. Heat betting pick and best bets for December 28, 2022.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Miami Heat Live Betting Odds:
| Teams | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| LA Lakers | +8 (-110) | +265 | Over 227.5 (-110) |
| Miami Heat | -8 (-110) | -330 | Under 227.5 (-110) |
| Team Data | LA Lakers | Miami Heat |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Record | 14-20 | 17-17 |
| ATS Record | 13-20-1 | 11-21-2 |
| Away/Home Record | 6-12 | 10-8 |
| ATS Away/Home | 6-12-0 | 4-13-1 |
| Points Per Game | 116.1 | 108.1 |
| Points Against Per Game | 117.8 | 109.2 |
| Field Goal % | 48.0 | 45.2 |
| Three Point % | 33.8 | 34.1% |
Lakers vs. Heat Predictions
Neither the Lakers nor Heat have been a good bet this season. The Lakers are 13-20-1 against the spread, while the Heat are 11-21-2 against the spread. These are two teams you would think would be popular with the public.
The Lakers covered their first game last night since December 16 against the Denver Nuggets. They had failed to cover the spread in five straight games before pulling away from the Magic on Tuesday night.
Miami covered the spread in their latest attempt, as well. As small 1-point favorites at home, the Heat edged out the T-Wolves by 3 points on Monday night. Well done by the Heat without Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo.
LeBron James Carrying The Lakers
LeBron is putting this team on his shoulders and then some this season. His presence on the floor is even more important now that Anthony Davis is on the shelf. It was really only a matter of time before these two hit the injury report together.
On a back-to-back with James bothered by a bad ankle, it would not be a surprise to see him take this game off. That really is not good news for the Lakers’ chances in Miami tonight.
Depth is not a strength of the Lakers. Russell Westbrook coming off the bench is good for the bench scoring. However, there is not much else to get excited about for the Lakers.
STAT. SHEET.
Tonight, Russ tied Detlef Schrempf’s record for most triple-doubles off the bench in league history. pic.twitter.com/2iVaYXh5gf
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) December 28, 2022
via@Lakers
Without James, the entire game plan is in the tubes for this team. Conversely, the Heat have a system that can still run despite injuries. They stress a tight and physical defense to beat opposing teams.
Will The Lakers Want To Play Without LeBron?
What kind of effort are we going to get from this group if he can’t start this basketball game? The Heat do not look like a good matchup on a back-to-back for a depleted squad.
The Heat are the fourth-best team in the NBA, with an average of 109.2 points allowed per game. They should be able to do a fine job containing a tired Lakers team in Miami tonight.
We know that the Lakers are not interested in playing defense regardless of who is on the floor. Overall, the Lakers are 27th in the league with 117.8 points against per game. On the road, they’ve yielded 121.3 points per game on 48.3% shooting.
Lakers vs. Heat Betting Pick:
The Heat have not been in the best of shape offensively this season. That is not what they are known for. However, the Lakers should make them look decent at home.
There will be a point in this game where the Lakers go deep in their bench and the game is given away. The Heat have a bench that features Orlando Robinson, Victor Oladipo, and Duncan Robinson.
In a game that could see star players absent, expect the Heat to use their substitutes off the bench to win this game for the Heat. They have a talent edge and fresher legs on Wednesday night.
For our Lakers vs. Heat prediction, TheSportsGeek is looking at a final score of 120-107 in favor of the Heat in Miami.
MORE FREE SPORTS BETTING PICKS!
