Miami put an end to the Knickerbockers’ four-game win streak with a 95-78 victory on Monday. The two renew acquaintances Friday trying to rekindle a rivalry that has lost some of its luster over the past few seasons. New York is halfway to its entire win total from last season and looks to be a contender in what is a mediocre Atlantic Division.
You can bet on NBA odds at BookMaker.eu every day of the season.
LOOK AHEAD
The Heat took care of what they had to at home. Now, it’s time to see if the success carries over on the road. After finishing off a 6-1 homestand with a 95-78 win over the Knicks on Monday, the Heat find themselves leading the Southwest Division and behind only the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference. A quick two-game road trip concludes Friday with a rematch against the Knickerbockers in the Garden before Miami heads back to south beach for another extended run of home games. It’ll be just the fifth road game of the season for Miami and the trip should give them an idea what to expect the next two month. The Heat play seven road games in December and will spend most of January away from home.
With their loss in Miami on Monday, the Knicks saw their four-game win streak come to an end. They look to avenge that loss when they host Miami to start a four-game homestand. The first two games are critical in what could be an impressive stay of games. The Knicks get Houston Sunday before entertaining the last-place Sixers and Nets next week.
INJURIES
Luol Deng gutted out a left hamstring injury Monday and was solid defensively for the Heat against Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis. Afterward he was unsure whether it made sense to continue playing through the injury at the risk of making it worse.
There has been a sickness around the Heat all season and center Hassan Whiteside and forward Amar’e Stoudemire are the latest to come down with it. Both players travelled with the team on its road trip.
KEY MATCHUP
Knicks president Phil Jackson didn’t make the popular pick at last June’s NBA draft, but he did make the right pick by drafting Porzingis with the fourth overall selection. The Knicks have drafted and failed so much over the past 15 years that a beaten-down fan base had already thrown in the towel on a 7-foot-3, 19-year-old with unique skills. His 24-point, 14-rebound and seven blocks performance Saturday against Houston was an eye-opener as he dominated on both ends of the court. It got the attention of the Heat, and Chris Bosh said Porzingis needs to be challenged. And that’s just what Porzingis needs for his continued development. The more teams game plan around him, the more openings Porzingis, a willing passer, will create for his teammates. He won’t always have nights like he had against the Rockets, but they are there for him. And they will become more frequent as his career progresses. The kid can play and he’s only going to get better. The numbers will follow and combo props will be a nice way to pocket some coin off him.
ODDS AND PREDICTION
The Heat played what coach Erik Spoelstra called the best defensive game of the year in a 95-78 win over the Knicks on Monday. And it’s something the Heat have worked on all season. Miami’s defense has been one of the best in the NBA in the early part of the season thanks to Whiteside, who has been a force in the middle. He blocked five shots and set a team record for most blocks through the first 13 games of the season. But the Heat have done all their damage at home, and as we know, homecourt advantage in the NBA is huge. It will be a different story once the Heat hit the road. The Knicks need some help from the bench and there’s a chance coach Derek Fisher moves Arron Afflalo from the starting lineup to help with the second unit. Langston Galloway is a likely candidate to move into the starting five and the switch will help the Knicks avoid disastrous games like they had on Monday. Porzingis is a threat and Carmelo will get his looks. Expect them to drop through the Garden nets as the Knicks get payback for Monday’s setback.
New York 98, Miami 92
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook! The matchup between the Miami Heat and New York Knicks will go down Friday, November 27, 2015, at 7:30 p.m. ET at Madison Square Garden. You can watch the game live on NBA TV.
