Lakers at Heat Lines, Score Prediction, Odds & 2024 NBA Expert Analysis

It’s always notable when LeBron James returns to Miami, where he won his first couple NBA championships, and LeBron will be back in South Florida with his Lakers to face the Heat in Week 7.

The NBA odds are a bit in flux due to the uncertain status of Heat star Jimmy Butler for the nationally televised game.

Los Angeles Lakers +103

The Lakers lost for the fifth time in seven games on Monday, routed 109-80 at Minnesota – which limited the Lakers to their lowest point total since a 122-73 loss at Dallas in 2017. The Timberwolves went 15 for 35 from deep and had 20 fast-break points.

D’Angelo Russell

Russell scored 20 in his return from illness and to the starting lineup for Los Angeles. He likely will stay in the starting five for the foreseeable future, or at least until Austin Reaves (pelvis) is able to return. Russell has surpassed the 15-point mark in four appearances in a row, averaging 17.5 points, 4.3 assists and 4.0 rebounds per game while shooting 55.3 percent from the floor in that stretch.

4-for-4 in the first half. 1,500 for the career.

Congrats, DLo 👏 pic.twitter.com/7QUS5zFGQf

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) December 3, 2024

Anthony Davis

Davis had a rough game Monday with just 12 points but added 11 rebounds and five assists. Davis has now failed to reach the 20-point mark in four of his last six outings. LeBron James struggled again on Monday and finished with 10 points on 4-for-16 shooting along with eight rebounds and four assists.

It has been a rough stretch of games for LeBron, who failed to hit a 3-pointer for a fourth straight game. Monday was by far his worst of the year as he scored a season-low in points and turned it over six times. James is now 0-for-19 from deep in his past four games — the worst he has shot from 3 since he missed 24 straight from Dec. 26, 2003, to Jan. 13, 2004.

LeBron James

James, who played in his 1,800th career game Monday between the regular season and playoffs combined — the most all time by any player, ahead of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1,797) — and turns 40 later this month, did not commit either way to continuing to suit up in every game this season. James is now averaging 16.8 points and five turnovers per game with a .398/.100/.857 shooting line in his past six outings. The Lakers, whose 118.3 offensive rating ranked fourth in the NBA through their first 15 games, have a 102.4 mark in those six games, the league’s third-worst mark since Nov. 23.

Coach JJ Redick said he was unsure whether the veteran’s goal to play in all 82 games is sustainable.

“I don’t know that’s in the best interest of him and us if he does that, but if he’s feeling well and feeling good, then he should play,” Redick said after Monday’s loss. “But we obviously want to … manage that as best we can.” Redick also assessed his team at the quarter mark of the season “uneven and inconsistent.”

A Lakers defense that ranked near the bottom of the league during the season’s first month has been a little more effective lately, but the improvement on the defensive end hasn’t made up for the drop-off on offense. Reaves has missed the past two games with a left pelvic contusion and remains day-to-day. He is averaging 16.7 points per game, 3.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 44 percent shooting from the field and 35 percent from three in 19 games.

Jarred Vanderbilt

Lakers forward Vanderbilt, who is recovering from offseason surgeries on both feet, has experienced a setback in his rehab process. As a result, the 25-year-old will likely be sidelined for at least another month.

Miami Heat -125

Playing without All-Star Jimmy Butler, the Heat were no match for Boston on Sunday in a 108-89 road loss as Miami shot 23% from beyond the arc and 36% from the field. The Heat scored the first seven points and then went cold while the Celtics ran off 17 of the next 19 points to take the lead. Boston made it a double-digit lead early in the second quarter and went up by 20 in the third. The game was never in doubt again.

Bam Adebayo

Adebayo had 15 points, eight rebounds and five assists in a losing effort. He made a few shots in the fourth quarter to make his percentages a little better, but he still shot worse than 40% for the fourth straight game. The three-time All-Star is averaging 14.2 points, 10.7 rebounds, 7.0 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.3 three-pointers over his last six outings. Adebayo is four double-doubles away from tying Alonzo Mourning (205) for the second-most in Heat history.

Tyler Herro

Herro had 19 points but was just 2-for-10 from deep and added five rebounds and four assists. Herro has now scored at least 18 points in each of his last 14 appearances for the Heat, averaging 24.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.1 assists in that span. Herro has hit at least one three-pointer in 53 straight regular-season games, the third-longest streak in team history (Duncan Robinson 69 & 57).

Jaime Jaquez Jr.

Jaquez Jr. got the start on Monday for Butler and took advantage of the opportunity with a season-high 19 points along with 10 rebounds, for his first double-double of the year, though he didn’t have a good night shooting the ball at 5-for-14. The team shot 34.9% from the floor and 20.6% from beyond the arc.

“When guys go down, it’s our job to step up and try to fill in those gaps,” Jaquez said. “Coming into this game, I knew I had to be aggressive, which was my mentality.”

Terry Rozier III

Guard Rozier III is shooting 61.9 percent (13-of-21) from the field, 53.3 percent (8-of-15) from three-point range and a perfect 2-of-2 from the foul line during the fourth quarter over his last five games. Josh Richardson has connected on his last 34 consecutive free throws dating back to last season, the longest such streak of his career.

#LALvsMIA INJURY UPDATE: Nikola Jovic (ankle) and Kel'el Ware (G-League assignment) have both been ruled out of tomorrow night's game vs the Lakers.

Jimmy Butler (knee), Kevin Love (back) and Josh Richardson (illness) are all listed as questionable.

— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) December 3, 2024

Jimmy Butler

Butler had to leave Sunday’s game in the closing seconds due to pain in his right knee and wasn’t able to go Monday. He’s day-to-day. Butler is shooting 62.1 percent (41-of-66) from the field over his last six games. Responding to an offseason challenge from team president Pat Riley, Butler was determined to be available for more regular season games this year, but his body may not be able to hold up at age 35. He already has missed five of the team’s first 19 games due to a sprained ankle, and any issues with the right knee have to be watched closely. There has been some talk that Miami could trade Butler to Houston or Dallas.

How to Bet Lakers at Heat Lines

When: Wednesday, 7:30 PM ET
Where: Kaseya Center
TV: NBA TV
Stream: NBA.com, NBA TV app

Lakers vs Heat Series History

This is the first of two regular-season matchups. Last season, Miami won both and is on a four-game winning streak against the Lakers. While Los Angeles leads 39-33 all-time, Miami is 22-14 at home.

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