by Chuck Sommers
Tuesday, Dec 28, 2021
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Venue: FTX Arena, Miami, FL
Where to watch: Bally Sports Sun, NBC Sports Washington
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Heat -6
BetMGM: Heat -6.5
Caesars: NL
Season record
Wizards: 17-16 (7th place, Eastern Conference)
Heat: 21-13 (4th place, Eastern Conference)
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Wizards - Heat preview and analysis
Recent form
Wizards: lost 117-96 vs. 76ers on Sunday
Heat: won 93-83 vs. Magic on Sunday
We may be as close to a full-strength matchup between the Washington Wizards and Miami Heat more than we thought on Tuesday in Miami.
Bradley Beal could be coming back from COVID protocol for this game, as coach Wes Unseld Jr. is optimistic he’ll have his all-star back. Unseld also said young forward Rui Hachimura will be available for a potential season debut, but it’s up in the air whether he plays or not.
For Miami, Jimmy Butler is back and is coming off a 17-point, 11-rebound performance in a 93-83 win over the Orlando Magic on Sunday. P.J. Tucker, who has not played in 10 days, could return to the lineup, as well.
Miami has had to deal with the absences of Kyle Lowry (COVID) and Markieff Morris (neck); neither will play Tuesday, and backup big man Dewayne Dedmon (filling in for the injured Bam Adebayo) is not available for the next 1-2 weeks with an MCL sprain.
The Heat have resorted to unknown players like Omer Yurtseven, going for 16 points and 15 rebounds in his first ever start on Sunday.
“You’re seeing the skill level that he has,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.
Miami had five players in double figures while dressing only nine. They were even able to avoid a rough night from leading scorer Tyler Herro; he had two points in 19 minutes before being ejected.
Even without some of their big names, the Heat have won five of six and are playing the final game before a season-long seven-game road trip that’s primarily a West Coast swing. Games against Golden State and Phoenix lie ahead.
The Wizards would welcome a run like that after losing eight of their last 10 and falling to just one game above .500. The return of Beal would help in that regard, especially with the Wizards coming off a 21-point loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday.
Spencer Dinwiddie led the way with 17 points and six assists.
The Heat are 4-2 in the last six meetings straight up, but the series has been split against the spread in those six. Washington won the last matchup at home, 103-100, while being 2.5-point underdogs. The under has also cashed in four of the last six.
Prediction
The Heat have overachieved with their stars out. But it almost cancels things out with Butler in and Lowry out; Adebayo remains a huge loss and Dedmon’s absence puts another chance on Yurtseven. How much Miami can rely on that is the question, but being at home will help. Heat by 6
Betting trends
The Wizards are 1-11 ATS in their last 12 when playing three games or less in 10 days.
The Wizards are 2-14 ATS in their last 16 Tuesday games.
The Heat are 12-2 ATS this season off an under.
The Heat are 1-5 ATS in their last six off three or more straight home wins.
Projected starting lineup
Wizards:
PG: Spencer Dinwiddie
SG: Bradley Beal
SF: Deni Avdija
PF: Kyle Kuzma
C: Daniel Gafford
SF: Deni Avdija
PF: Kyle Kuzma
C: Daniel Gafford
Heat:
PG: Tyler Herro
SG: Duncan Robinson
SF: Jimmy Butler
PF: Caleb Martin
C: Omer Yurtseven
SF: Jimmy Butler
PF: Caleb Martin
C: Omer Yurtseven
Key injuries
Wizards: Thomas Bryant (COVID, out), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (COVID, out), Raul Neto (COVID, out)
Heat: Kyle Lowry (COVID, out), P.J. Tucker (leg, questionable), Markieff Morris (neck, out), Dewayne Dedmon (knee, out), Bam Adebayo (thumb, out)
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
