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The Miami Heat take on the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. This is the second meeting between these teams in less than a week. The Heat beat the Cavs 118-94 last December 28, 2018.
Heat Have Cooled Off
The Heat have cooled off after winning a season high five straight games late in the month. Miami has gone 2-2 in their last four games, losing to the Minnesota Timberwolves 104-113 in their most recent outing. With the loss, Miami fell below the .500 mark at 17-18 on the season and second in the Southeast Division.
The Heat are ranked 25th in team scoring at 106.7 points per game while Miami is 21st in assists at 23.0 dimes per contest. On defense, they have better numbers as the team is 4th in rebounding with their 47.6 boards per game average and 7th in scoring defense at 106.1 points per game allowed.
Miami Heat vs Cleveland Cavaliers 1/2/19
Moneyline Odds: Heat -240, Cavaliers +200
Odds from sportsbetting.ag as of 1/2/19
Worst Record In The League
The Cleveland Cavaliers have lost six straight games and eight of their last 10 games to claim the worst record in the league at 8-29. Four of the six losses during their current six game losing skid have come by double digits including a 24-point drubbing at the hands of the Miami Heat last December 28th in Miami.
The Cavs are third lowest scoring team in the league at 102.3 points per game. They are also second to the last in assists at only 19.9 per game. Cleveland is 24th off the glass at 43.6 rebounds per game. They are 19th in scoring defense at 111.3 points per game allowed.
Who Wins?
The Heat are 6-2 SU in their last eight games played and Miami is 5-2 SU in their last seven road games played. The Cavaliers are 0-5 SU in their last five games played and 5-13 SU in 18 home games played this season. Head to head, the Heat are 19-6 in their last 25 meetings against the Cavs but Cleveland is 6-1 SU in their last seven home games against Miami.
The Heat are coming off their best month of the season. Miami recorded a 9-5 record in the month of December, enjoying a five game winning streak at one point and winning six out of their last eight games played. Much of their success can be attributed to their defense which has held seven out of their last eight opponents to below their season scoring average. The Heat are 11-1 when holding their opponents to under 100 points per game. With Cleveland averaging in that ballpark at 102.3 points per game, they are right where the Heat want them to be.
As for the Cavaliers, they have failed to find any resemblance of consistency all season long. Much of that is due to the continued absence of Kevin Love. The Cavs have really struggled that they are now at the bottom of the team standings league-wide. I simply cannot trust the Cavaliers right now, not even at home where they have just won five games in total.
We’re picking the Miami Heat to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers on 1/2/19.
Other Bets To Make
Miami is 7-1 ATS in their last eight games played and the Heat are 8-1 ATS in their last nine games on the road. Cleveland is 18-19 ATS on the season and the Cavs are 7-11 ATS in 18 home games played this season. Head to head, the Heat are 5-2 ATS in their last seven meetings against the Cavaliers but Cleveland is 6-2 ATS in their last 8 meetings at the Quicken Loans Arena.
Miami Heat vs Cleveland Cavaliers 1/2/19
Spread Odds: Heat -6 (-110), Cavaliers +6 (-110)
Odds from sportsbetting.ag as of 1/2/19
Miami is 5-0 ATS in their last five games played on two-days rest. The Heat are 8-1 ATS in their last nine road games and 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games overall. The Cavs are 1-5 ATS in their last six games after an ATS win and 2-5 ATS in their last seven home games played.
Prediction: Heat -6
The total has gone over in four out of the last five games played by the Heat. The under is 4-2 in Miami’s last six road games. On the other hand, the total has gone under in four out of the last six games between the Heat versus the Cavs and the under is 5-0 in their last five meetings in Cleveland.
Miami Heat vs Cleveland Cavaliers 1/2/19
Over/Under Odds: Over 206 -110, Under 206 -110
Odds from sportsbetting.ag as of 1/2/19
Miami’s defense has been on full display since the start of December. As stated above, the Heat have held seven out of their last 8 opponents to below their season scoring average and with Cleveland just scoring 102.3 points per game, this one should go under. Likewise, the Heat don’t have the usual firepower with Goran Dragic out so their offense is just middling right now. As for the Cavs, unless Kevin Love returns, they will always be candidates to go under.
Prediction: Under 206
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