NBA Spreads: Miami Heat at Orlando Magic
Written by Steve Janus - Google +
The Miami Heat are set to visit the Orlando Magic Thursday night. It will be the third meeting between the two Southeast division teams this season. The home team has won both games. Tip-0ff is set for 8:00 ET at the Ameay Center.
Miami comes in on a three game winning streak. After holding off the Pistons 88-87 on Friday, the Heat pulled out another close one on Sunday against the Thunder, winning 108-103. Miami’s most recent win came at home against the Cavaliers where they crushed Cleveland 117-90.
The Magic are just 2-3 in their last five overall. Orlando lost 100-97 at Memphis on Monday, and now trail the Heat by 3.5 games in the Southeast. Orlando beat Miami 104-95 at home back on Nov. 24.
Taking a look at the NBA spreads for tonight’s game, oddsmakers have the Magic favored by 1.5-points over the Heat with the total set at 196.
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This isn’t just any other game, these two teams will give everything they have to win this game, and it will be interesting to see who comes out on top. Miami won 96-70 at home back on Oct. 29, but I don’t think those first two games mean a whole lot to these teams. Orlando had made a few big roster moves since their last win, and the Heat have played on a whole different level when healthy the past couple of months.
The Magic got 25 points and 14 rebounds from Dwight Howard in their latest loss to the Grizzlies, and while it will be important that everyone play well, Howard has to have a big game for the Magic to win. Howard had 24 and 18 in Orlando’s win over Miami at home, but just 19 and 7 in the loss at Miami.
The key for the Magic will be hitting from outside. Against the Grizzlies, Orlando went just 8-32 from three-point range. The Magic are going to take their shots from deep, but so many of their players rely on that shot to fall for them to be successful. Hedo Turkoglu, Jason Richardson, and Ryan Anderson off the bench are three guys I think have to come out and play well tonight.
If they don’t the Magic could be in for a long night. Miami once again has the big three of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh healthy, and that hasn’t been good news for any of their opponents.
Before the Heat won three in a row, they had lost four of their previous five games, but all four of those losses came with one of the big three injured.
Also Eddie House and Mike Miller are becoming quite the duo off the bench, and these two can really step up and hit a big shot when needed.
I think getting the Heat as an underdog is something you can’t pass up. Miami wants this game, and have proven they can win on the road when they are at full strength. I look for it to be close early, with the Heat pulling away in the end.
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