Miami Heat vs Houston Rockets Prediction
| Game Time | 7:00 pm EST |
| Miami Heat Line | +7.5 |
| Houston Rockets Line | -7.5 |
| Total | 216.5 |
| TV: | NBA TV |
Below is a detailed analysis for Miami Heat vs Houston Rockets game.
PREGAME WARM-UP:
The Houston Rockets, fresh off a hard fought one-point loss by Minnesota that snapped their previous four-game winning streak, are hosting the Miami Heat. The Heat are on the second leg of a road back-to-back, as they followed a three-game losing streak with two straight wins. Miami is also playing their third consecutive road game, where they are not playing their best basketball of the season. The Rockets on the other hand, had an extra day of rest and are playing their second straight home game.
Miami Heat vs Houston Rockets Prediction
Houston Rockets Injury Report: Tari Eason, Dillon Brooks day-to-day.
Miami Heat Injury Report: Terry Rozier, Jimmy Butler are day-to-day, Josh Richardson and Dru Smith are out
Houston Rockets Form and Trends
The Rockets have a 21-10 record this season and are sitting on the third place of the West. Houston is 19-12 against the spread and 16-15 in over/under. The Rockets have a 11-4 home record, and are 10-5 against the spread, with a +10.3-point differential. The Rockets are 4-1 in their last 5 games, but 4-6 against the spread in their last 10. Over is 4-1 in their last 5 games.
The Rockets are coming off a 112-113 loss by Minnesota, as they allowed the Wolves to shoot with 51% from the field and 49% from downtown. All five Houston starters scored double figures, led by Alperen Sengun with 38 points and 12 rebounds.
Jalen Green leads the Rockets in scoring with an average of 19.3 points and 4.5 rebounds. Alperen Sengun adds 19 points, 5.1 assists and a team-high 10.6 rebounds.
Miami Heat Recent Form and Trends
The Heat have a 15-13 record this season and are sitting on the 6th place of the East. Miami is 13-15 against the spread and 15-13 in over/under. The Heat have a 6-8 road record, and are 6-8 against the spread, with a -0.7-point differential. The Heat are 6-3 in their last 9 games, and are 2-4 against the spread in their last 6. Under is 3-1 in their last 4 games.
Miami is coming off a hard-fought 89-88 win in Orlando, even though they shot worse than the Magic from the field (41% to 44%). Tyler Herro led Miami’s offense with 20 points and 3 rebounds.
Herro leads Miami in scoring with an average of 24.1 points, adding 5.3 rebounds and 4.8 assists. Jimmy Butler adds 19.4 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5 assists but he is questionable for today.
Statistical Breakdown
Offensively, the Rockets average 113.4 point per game, ranking 12th in the league. Houston does not shoot the ball very well, with just 44.4% from the field (26th) and 32.7% from beyond the arc (28th). Defensively, they are third-best in the league, allowing 106.7 points per game.
Offensively, the Heat are averaging 111.3 points per game, which is 16th in the league. Miami shoots with 45.3% from the field (22nd), and with 37.8% from beyond the arc (5th). Defensively, they allow 108.6 points per game, which is the 6th-best in the NBA.
The Heat are 8-0 in their last 8 meetings against the Rockets, going for 6-2 against the spread. Miami has won four consecutive times in Houston and over is 5-1 in their last 6 meetings.
Prediction
In this Miami Heat vs Houston Rockets Prediction, the Rockets are coming as -7.5 home favorites. The Rockets are rightfully favored, as they have been the far better team throughout the season, and they are catching the Heat in a bad scheduling spot, as they are on the second leg of a road back-to-back. The Heat have also been extremely inefficient on the road this season, while the Rockets are winning their opponents at home by an average of 10.3 points. I expect the hosts to take care of business in this one, so take the Houston Rockets and lay the points at home. Nick’s Free Pick: Houston Rockets -7.5
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