Miami Heat vs Oklahoma City Thunder Prediction, Preview and Odds - 03/08/2024

Game Time: 8:00 pm ET, Friday, March 8, 2024

Venue:  Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK 

Where to Watch:  KSBI

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  Heat +8, Thunder -8; Over/Under:  225.5 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  Heat +8, Thunder -8; Over/Under:  225.5 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  Heat +8.5, Thunder -8.5; Over/Under:  225.5 points

Miami Heat:  35-26 (2nd place, Southeast Division)

Oklahoma City Thunder:  43-19 (2nd place, Northwest Division)

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Miami Heat:  8-2 last 10

Oklahoma City Thunder:  8-2 last 10

The Heat are entering this game with a 35-26 record overall and they are 18-13 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game on a 2 game winning streak with wins coming against the Utah Jazz and the Detroit Pistons in their last game, but this is also the 2nd game of a back-to-back for them with their game against the Dallas Mavericks still to be played on Thursday night. In their game against the Pistons, Jimmy Butler led the team in points in that game with 26 while Bam Adebayo and Duncan Robinson each were next on the team with 18 points. Jimmy Butler led the team in assists in that game with 8 while Bam Adebayo led the team in rebounds with 7. They were 49.4% from the field, 45.2% from 3-point range, and 87% from the free throw line with their shots in that game. Their offense is averaging 110.8 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 109.9 PPG against them. The Heat have an ATS record of 30-30-1 this season and their O/U record is 24-37.

The Thunder are entering this game with a 43-19 record overall and they are 24-6 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a win against the Portland Trail Blazers in their last game. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the team in points in that game with 37 while Jalen Williams was next on the team with 31 points. Josh Giddey led the team in assists in that game with 7 while Chet Holmgren led the team in rebounds with 14. They were 58.1% from the field, 40.9% from 3-point range, and 84.6% from the free throw line with their shots in that game. Their offense is averaging 121 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 113.4 PPG against them. The Thunder have an ATS record of 38-23-1 this season and their O/U record is 34-25-3.

The current betting odds have the Thunder listed as an 8 point favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Thunder have looked really good in their games this season with their 43-19 record overall which has them right near the top of the West right now with one of the best records in the entire NBA. They have also looked great on their home court all year with their 24-6 home record. Meanwhile, the Heat have also looked good in their games this season with their 35-26 record overall which has them surging up the standings in the East and in a true playoff spot right now. They have been a good road team with their 18-13 road record this season and they are looking to keep their playoff spot secure as they have been really hot lately. The Heat are 8-2 in their last 10 games and have some momentum on their side right now with 2 wins in a row, but they are also in a bad situation here playing this game on a back-to-back. The Thunder have been just as hot in their games lately with their 8-2 record in their last 10 games and they also have some momentum from a bounce back win in their last one. The Heat are fighting to keep their playoff spot right now but they are in a bad situation here in this road game and the Thunder can take advantage of that while rested with how good they have looked on their home court this season. The best way to place a bet here is on the Thunder to cover the spread in this game. 

Heat Thunder Prediction:  Our NBA Pick for Friday, March 8, 2024 (8:00 pm ET start time) is Thunder 122 Heat 108.

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Miami Heat: 1-5 ATS against Northwest division opponents. 4-9 ATS revenging a loss where the opponent scored 110 or more points. 21-11 UNDER when the total is 220 to 229.5. 14-5 UNDER as a road underdog. 22-9 UNDER in road games. 

Oklahoma City Thunder: 38-23 ATS in all games. 17-7 ATS as a home favorite. 8-2 ATS off a win against a division rival. 6-2 UNDER as a home favorite of 6.5 to 12 points. 14-4 UNDER off a road win. 

Miami Heat:  K. Love (PF) Mid March - Heel. J. Richardson (SG) out for season - Shoulder. T. Herro (SG) Out indefinitely - Knee.

Oklahoma City Thunder:  B. Biyombo (C) Ques Fri - Undisclosed. J. Williams (PF) Ques Fri - Knee.

“These next 21 games, there's probably going to be a lot of these. It's just the way it's going right now. Everybody's fighting for playoff positioning.” - Erik Spoelstra after his team’s win against the Pistons in their game on Tuesday.

“Give them a lot of credit, I thought they really fought tonight — which they've been doing lately, they've got the fifth-best defense in the league in the last 10 games and their competitiveness and physicality definitely showed tonight. It was a good test for us." - Mark Daigneault after his team’s win against the Trail Blazers in their game on Wednesday.

PG Terry Rozier

SG Duncan Robinson

SF Jimmy Butler

PF Nikola Jovic

C Bam Adebayo

PG Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

SG Josh Giddey

SF Luguentz Dort

PF Jalen Williams

C Chet Holmgren

PPG: J. Butler (21.9)

APG: T. Rozier (6.3)

Reb/G: B. Adebayo (10.3)

PPG: S. Gilgeous-Alexander (31.1)

APG: S. Gilgeous-Alexander (6.5)

Reb/G: C. Holmgren (7.9)

Coaches:

Miami Heat: Erik Spoelstra (16th season)

Oklahoma City Thunder: Mark Daigneault (4th season)