The Miami Heat (14-12) and Brooklyn Nets (7-18) will face off in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The game will broadcast live on FDSSUN.
The Heat are 6.5-point favorites over the Nets on the spread (Heat -6.5), with the over/under set at 227 total points. Miami is a -245 to win outright on the moneyline, while Brooklyn is +205 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Heat vs. Nets predictions and NBA picks for Thursday, December 18.
My Heat vs Nets Prediction
- Heat vs Nets pick: Bam Adebayo 20+ Points (-120)
My Nets vs Heat best bet is on Bam Adebayo to score 20 or more points, with the best price currently available at bet365. However, make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Heat vs Nets Odds
| Heat Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-6.5 -105 | 227 -110o / -110u | -245 |
| Nets Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+6.5 -115 | 227 -110o / -110u | +200 |
Heat vs Nets NBA Preview
The Miami Heat are in dire need of a good right spot, and they're hoping this is it, even though this could be a trap game once we get to the injuries.
The Heat's quick, forceful and gimmicky offense is sputtering.
The team has scored over 111 just twice in their last seven games, and they only beat the rudderless Clippers over the course of said games.
The Heat have sucked lately, but the Nets really suck — less so as of late. Brooklyn is 4-2 (!!) over their last six, bumping them to just 7-18 on the season, but much better lately.
Miami, after a 13-6 start, is down to just 14-12 and looking more like the Play-In team they've been in three straight regular seasons.
Cam Thomas (hamstring) and Haywood Highsmith (knee) are expected to remain out with their long-term injuries through tonight, although Thomas, in particular, has been cleared for on-court work and is due for a reevaluation soon.
For Miami, Tyler Herro (toe) and Nikola Jovic (elbow) are not only back on the injury report, but the often-sidelined Heat standouts are out for tonight, with Jovic listed as "week-to-week." Pelle Larsson (ankle) and Terry Rozier (feds) are also out.
The big one to monitor: Norman Powell (calf) is questionable to play.
Heat vs Nets Prediction, Betting Analysis
I'm so serious when I tell you, Bam Adebayo is one of my favorite players in the NBA.
He's a ridiculously talented defender, who can also be an engine on offense in spurts, though he's best suited as a highly complementary No. 2 or an overqualified No. 3.
In this team, his role fluctuates, but without Herro, Jovic, Larsson and possibly Powell, it's borderline unacceptable of Adebayo doesn't get his in what feels must-win adjacent.
First off, Bam has scored 20 or more in 4-of-6.
Bam's had many big games for this team, both in the regular season and playoffs, and this is one of those instances where they just need the offense.
The Nets allow nearly 54 points in the paint per game, which is sixth most in the league, and closer to 55 over their last three, even as they've been playing better. At home, they allow about 55 PITP per, fourth most in the league.
Additionally, Bam — just 4-for-19 in five games since a 5-of-8 outburst against the Clippers — has a potential bounce-back spot from deep.
The Nets only allow the seventh fewest threes per contest but also allow the fourth highest percentage. Without Herro and possibly Powell, they'll need Adebayo's three-point volume.
Sure, that sounds funny, but Bam shoots their fourth most threes per game, a number dropping as of late but still sitting at five per.
I like this independent of Powell, and there's a chance this moves if he sits, so I'm also getting ahead of that here.
Pick: Bam Adebayo 20+ Points (-120)
