Los Angeles Clippers vs. Miami Heat: Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 12/8/2022

Time: 7:30 p.m. ET

Venue: FTX Arena, Miami, FL

Where to watch: BSSUN, BSSC, ClipperVision, NBATV

DraftKings: Heat -4.5; Heat -175, Clippers +150; O/U 215.5

FanDuel: Heat -4; Heat -186, Clippers +156; O/U 215.5

BetMGM: Heat -4.5; Heat -189, Clippers +155

Caesars: NL

Clippers: 14-12

Heat: 11-14

The Los Angeles Clippers are playing the second night of a back-to-back and are coming off a 116-111 overtime loss to the Orlando Magic on Wednesday. Not a good recipe, if you ask me. The Clippers needed a game-winner from Kawhi Leonard on Monday to beat the Charlotte Hornets with neither him nor Paul George playing more than 30 minutes. But the fact of the matter is this was expected. No one was thinking the Clippers would go back to being world beaters with their two stars coming back from injury so soon. There would be rough patches. But to barely hold on against Charlotte and to lose to a young, scrappy Orlando team doesn’t bode well for a good week.

 

Considering George made 3 of his first 4 shots only to finish 3 of 12 and for Leonard to go 4 of 15, the fact the Clippers made it to overtime was incredible. They’ve now dropped six of their last eight against the spread and have lost five of their last eight overall. This group is going to need time to gel, but they need to be better than what they were.

 

The Miami Heat are coming off a disappointing 116-96 loss to the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday, a clear indication they’re not where they need to be right now. The fact that it was also at home doesn’t help matters, nor does the fact they had Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo available, but no Jimmy Butler. Herro had 34 points on 12 of 17 shooting, while Adebayo had a double-double of 21 points and 15 rebounds. But that’s all the Heat got out of this game. And going into this one isn’t going to be any better for the Heat. They’re 3-12-1 ATS in their last 16 home games and just 4-11 ATS in their last 15 against teams with a winning record. This isn’t the Miami team we’re accustomed to seeing as it pertains to being competitive.

 

“We simply just didn’t play well," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “I thought we were pretty stable defensively through three quarters, and then the floodgates just opened."

 

It wouldn’t come as a shock to see the over cash. The over is 4-0 in the Heat’s last four against teams with a winning record, and is 6-1 overall in the last seven. It’s also 4-0 in the Clippers’ last four and 6-1-1 in their last eight road games against teams with a winning record. I can see this turning into a track meet with George and Leonard still finding their way defensively. If it gets to that point, then the Clippers are in good shape because the absence of Butler is clearly hurting them at this point. Clippers by 10, over cashes

Clippers are 22-23 ATS as a road dog the last 3 seasons.

Clippers are 32-32 ATS in non-conference games the last 3 seasons.

Heat are 26-15 ATS off 2 straight under the last 3 seasons.

PG: Reggie Jackson

SG: Paul George

SF: Kawhi Leonard

PF: Marcus Morris

C: Ivica Zubac

PG: Kyle Lowry

SG: Tyler Herro

SF: Caleb Martin

PF: Jimmy Butler

C: Bam Adebayo

Clippers: None

Heat: Victor Oladipo (knee, probable), Gabe Vincent (knee, out), Max Strus (shoulder, probable)

Points: Paul George -- 23.4

Rebounds: Ivica Zubac -- 11.5

Assists: John Wall -- 5.7

Points: Jimmy Butler -- 21.0

Rebounds: Bam Adebayo -- 9.2

Assists: Kyle Lowry -- 6.0