Every team in the NBA has a distinctive style of play that is designed to try and get the most out of the players that they have on their roster. Some teams go out and play loose, putting the ball in the hands of their most gifted offensive players, while others rely heavily on team defense to keep things tight and keep the team in every single game. No matter what sort of style a team adopts, they tend to go out of their way to turn their home court into a bit of a fortress.
The vast majority of teams who end up pushing for an NBA title have one thing in common, which is that they are very tough to beat in their own building. Winning on the road is always tough, but it’s even more difficult when the opponent has created that home fortress. That is what the Raptors are up against on Thursday night when they head to Miami to face a Heat team that is absolutely outstanding in their own building. It is perhaps no real surprise that Miami is in as a 5 ½ point home favorite against the defending NBA champions. The point total for this one is set at 214.
Raptors vs Heat 2019 NBA Betting Lines & Game Preview
- When: Thursday, January 2 at 7:30 PM EST
- Where: American Airlines Arena, Miami
- TV: NBATV
- NBA Betting Lines: Miami Heat -5.5 (Total 214)
Why bet on the Toronto Raptors?
After losing their best player to free agency, it was always going to be tough for the Toronto Raptors to repeat as champions this season, but they are certainly in the mix in the Eastern Conference right now. The Raptors are 7 games off the pace being set by the Milwaukee Bucks on top, sitting at 23-11, which has them in a rather respectable #4 seed in the East.They have managed to play consistent ball this season, coming into this game on a run that has seen them win 7 of their last 10. The Raptors have been good at home and are doing okay on the road with a 9-6 record. Toronto has also been a good bet against the spread, going 7-3 ATS in their last 10, but they are just 2-5 ATS in their last 7 visits to Miami.
Team Stats
Offense- Total Score: 111.50
- Field Goal Percentage: 45.26
- Three-Point Percentage: 37.48
- Free Throw Percentage: 80.41
- Total Rebounds: 46.09
Defense
- Total Score: 105.94
- Field Goal Percentage: 42.22
- Three-Point Percentage: 33.00
- Free Throw Percentage: 76.06
- Total Rebounds: 47.35
Why bet on the Miami Heat?
If the goal is to become impossible to beat at home, then very team in the NBA should be looking at what the Miami Heat are doing right now. The Heat are coming into the New Year having dropped just one game at home, going a very impressive 15-1 SU in their own building.
That has helped them jump out to a 24-9 record overall, which has them in the #3 seed in the Eastern Conference, 3 games back of pace being set by the Bucks at the top. Miami are coming into this one off a loss to the Washington Wizards, a defeat that brought a 5-game winning streak to a close. Despite picking up wins, the Heat have not been covering, going just 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games.
Team Stats
Offense- Total Score: 112.39
- Field Goal Percentage: 46.96
- Three-Point Percentage: 38.46
- Free Throw Percentage: 77.20
- Total Rebounds: 45.55
Defense
- Total Score: 108.18
- Field Goal Percentage: 44.52
- Three-Point Percentage: 33.14
- Free Throw Percentage: 75.44
- Total Rebounds: 41.45
Raptors vs Heat 2019 NBA Betting Trends
- Heat are 5-1 SU in their last 6 games against an opponent in the Atlantic division
- Heat are 8-0-1 ATS in their last 9 games played on a Thursday
- The total has gone OVER in 9 of Miami’s last 10 games this season
- Toronto are 5-2 SU in their last 7 games on the road
- Toronto are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games when playing on the road against Miami
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Toronto’s last 6 games this season
Expert Pick & Final Score Prediction for Raptors vs Heat
Given how good the Heat have been at home, it’s tough to imagine them losing this one, although I’m not so sure that they will cover here. I am taking the Heat to win a close one, with the Raptors covering the spread.Score: Toronto Raptors 107 – Miami Heat 110
