Miami Heat vs Sacramento Kings 02/18/2021 NBA Odds, Preview and Prediction

Two struggling teams meet at the Golden 1 Center on Thursday as the Miami Heat visit the Sacramento Kings.

The Heat have dropped the first three games of a current seven-game road trip to the West and are coming off a heartbreaking OT loss to the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night. Meanwhile, the Kings have lost four straight at home but will head to this game having a day off on Wednesday.

The Heat defeated the Kings 105-104 in their first meeting of the season on January 30, 2021, in Miami.

Miami Heat

The Heat are 11-17 on the year and they are currently in 3rd place in the Southeast Division and 11th overall in the Eastern Conference team standings. They are just 2.5 games behind 8th place Charlotte but Miami is in the middle of a seven-game Western road trip that has seen them lose three in a row.

Jimmy Butler is doing it all for Miami, averaging 19.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 7.1 assists per game this season. Bam Adebayo is having another fantastic season at 19.8 points and 9.4 rebounds per game while Tyler Herro is having a great second season at 17.3 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. Kendrick Nunn and Duncan Robinson are also scoring in double figures.

The Heat are the 4th lowest-scoring team in the league at 106.6 points per game this season. Miami is 7th in scoring defense at just 110.1 points per game allowed and they are 11th in passing at 25.4 assists per game. The Heat rank last in the NBA in rebounding at only 42.0 boards grabbed per contest.

What are the Moneyline Odds?

Heat

-122

Kings

+102

Odds from BetOnline as of 02/18/2021

Sacramento Kings

The Kings are 12-15 on the season and they head to this game with a four-game losing streak. Sacramento is currently 5th in the Pacific Division but are 11th in Western Conference teams standings. However, they are just 2.5 games back of the 8th seeded Warriors. Sacramento was 7-1 SU before their current losing streak so they’re a team that can put together victories as well.

De’Aaron Fox is playing like an All-Star this season, putting up 23.2 points, 6.8 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. Buddy Hield is contributing 16.41 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game while Marvin Bagley III is averaging 12.8 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. Rookie Tyrese Haliburton is also contributing 12.4 points and 5.2 assists per game.

Sacramento ranks 12th in the league in scoring at 113.9 points per game. They have the worst scoring defense in the NBA, allowing 119.3 points per game. The Kings are 24th in rebounding at 43.1 boards grabbed per contest and they are 10th in passing at 25.7 assists per game.

Who Wins?

The Heat are 4-2 SU in their last six games played. Miami is 4-9 SU in 13 road games played this season. The Kings are 0-4 SU in their last four games played. Sacramento is 7-10 in 17 home games played this season.

Miami has not looked like the same team that reached the NBA Finals last season as injuries have prevented them from playing as a complete unit. Right now, it’s Goran Dragic who is out with an ankle injury. The Heat are out of playoff position right now and need every win they can get to get back in the playoff hunt. However, they are 0-3 so far in their current seven-game road trip.

Sacramento has dropped four straight games, all at home. But remember that prior to their current struggles, they won four in a row against the Pelicans, Celtics, Nuggets, and Clippers while going 7-1 in eight games prior to their current losing streak. The Kings have struggled as of late and could be without Barnes and Holmes.

Miami is currently traveling West on a seven-game road trip. They have lost the first three of those games including last night’s OT loss to the Warriors. Miami is 4-10 on the road after the defeat in Oakland. On the other hand, the Kings had a rest day on Wednesday and should be ready to defend The Golden 1 Center from the Heat. Sacramento is 4-4 SU in their last eight games played. I think this will be a closely fought contest and the well-rested Kings should beat the road-weary Heat.

Prediction: Sacramento Kings

Other Bets To Make

Miami is 3-9 ATS in their last 12 games played. The Heat are 3-9-1 ATS in their last 13 games as the betting favorite, 7-19-1 ATS in their last 27 games against an opponent with a losing SU record, and 0-5 ATS in their last five games against an opponent with a losing home record. Sacramento is 0-4 ATS in their last five games played. The Kings are 1-5 ATS in their last six games as home underdogs, 0-5 ATS in their last five games against an opponent with a losing road record, and 0-4 ATS in their last five games played at home. Head to head, the Kings are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games played against the Heat.

What are the Spread Odds?

Heat

-1.5 (-118)

Kings

+1.5 (-102)

Odds from BetOnline as of 02/18/2021

Sacramento has lost its last four games played but it will be glad to return home on Thursday against the Heat who are in the midst of a seven-game road trip and playing back-to-back games. Miami continues to be without Goran Dragic here and they will be facing a Sacramento team that has the benefit of a one-day rest. This one’s a pick’em game and as such, I will have to side with the home team.

Prediction: Kings +1.5

The total has gone under in five out of the last seven played by Miami. The Heat have seen the total go over in 13 out of their last 18 games against an opponent with a losing SU record. The over is also 3-1-1 in their last five games when playing on zero days rest. The total has gone over in six out of the Kings’ last seven games as the betting underdog. The over is 21-8 in their last 29 Thursday games, and also 5-1in their last six home games. Head to head, the over is 14-5 in the last 19 meetings between these two teams.

The Heat are in the Top 10 in scoring and scoring defense but as we saw in their last game against the Clippers, they can keep up in a high-scoring game. Sacramento meanwhile has a Top 10 offense and owns the worst scoring defense in the NBA at 119.3 points per game allowed. So unless both teams go ice cold on Thursday, we should witness a track meet between these two teams.

Prediction: Over 224

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