Two perennially strong franchises have fallen on hard times. The Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat are used to challenging for NBA titles, but this year they will be hard-pressed to even make the playoffs.
If either team can put together a run, it better start soon, and each would be well-served to win this matchup. Miami is the home team and will be favored to take care of business in this one. The Lakers started off hot but have fallen on hard times of late and will try to shake out of their rut.
This war on the floor will go down Thursday, December 22, 2016, at 10:30 p.m. ET at American Airlines Arena. The game will be televised live on TNT.
We'll have NBA odds at BookMaker.eu available for this and every game on the NBA Thursday schedule.
Odds Analysis
The Lakers are 11-19 straight up and 13-16-1 against the spread. Los Angeles is 8-9 against the spread on the road and 11-12 trying to cover as the underdog.
The Heat are 9-19 straight up and 14-14 against the spread. Miami is 6-8 against the spread at home this season and has covered twice in five attempts as the favorite.
Key Stat
Nine. That’s the number of losses the Lakers have suffered in their past 10 games to take away all the promise of an impressive start. Six of those losses have come on the road, and Los Angeles is in the midst of a tough seven-game road swing.
They will wrap it up soon but it’s tough living out of a suitcase for a couple weeks and has no doubt taken its toll. The Lakers were in the playoff hunt a quarter of the way through the season but have now clearly dropped into lottery land.
This was expected as the team is rebuilding, but the hot start did give some hope. The Lakers hope to end the skid in Miami but it won’t be an easy task, even against a team with an inferior record. The Heat is just 4-10 at home this year and badly wants to improve on that record.
Player to Watch
Hassan Whiteside - The best player on the court will likely be the Heat big man. Whiteside has put together a breakout season, averaging 17.6 points, 14.8 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game, putting himself into clear contention for an All-Star spot.
The Lakers have had trouble slowing down opposing big men this season and Whiteside could be in line for a big game. This one could be close, so the way he plays could help affect the outcome greatly. Whiteside is also a force on the defensive end of the floor and will make the Lakers think twice when they are penetrating and trying to score in the lane.
Free NBA ATS Pick
The Lakers are young and this season was expected to be a rebuilding one, so the record isn’t a surprise. Youngsters D’Angelo Russell and Julius Randle have shown some flashes and the team seems to be on the right track, albeit it could be a couple years before they return to contention.
The Heat was harder to read heading into the season after the departure of Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, but the absence of those stars has been tough to overcome. While Miami doesn’t seem to be going anywhere this season either, it should be able to capture a win in this contest at home.
This one could be high scoring as neither defense is very good. It may not be the cleanest game ever but Miami should be able to make enough big shots in the fourth quarter to escape with a close victory.
NBA Odds: Heat 113, Lakers 108
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