The Miami Heat is clinging to the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, but if it continues to struggle, there are plenty of teams hot on its heels that could push Miami into lottery land. The Heat will have a hard time getting in the win column this week when it hits the road to face off against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Portland is the superior team and should be a comfortable favorite to win this matchup. The Blazers can’t afford to blow it as they are in the middle of a tight Western Conference race where every game could matter at the end of the year in NBA betting lines.
This NBA basketball game between the Miami Heat and Portland Trail Blazers will be held at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon at 10:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, February 5th, 2019. The game will be nationally televised on TNT.
We'll have NBA basketball odds at BookMaker.eu available for every game of the 2019 NBA season.
Odds Analysis
Miami has a record of 24-27 on the season. Despite sitting under .500 on the year, the Heat is still in line to make the playoffs because it plays in the inferior Eastern Conference. Miami has three teams -- the Pistons, Wizards and Magic -- within three games of it so the postseason is not a guarantee. The Heat has actually been better on the road than at home this year with a 13-11 record, and would love to improve on that mark down the stretch.
Portland is 32-20 on the year. The Blazers have played well of late to move up to the No. 4 seed in the West but can drop or move up easily depending on how they finish. Portland is an impressive 22-7 at home on the year and will be favored to keep that going.
Key Stat
Seven. That’s the number of losses for the Heat in their past 10 games, as the team is going through some struggles. Miami began this stretch with a 40-point loss to the Bucks then fell in a close one to the Pistons.
The Heat beat the Bulls but then dropped consecutive matchups to the Celtics and Clippers. Miami knocked off the lowly Cavaliers and Knicks but has kept dropping games once the competition stiffened. The Heat enters on a three-game losing streak, falling to the Bulls, Thunder and Pacers.
The team’s offense has been an issue. Miami is not finding open looks consistently enough to score and keep up with its opponents.
Player To Watch
Damian Lillard -- Miami will have its hands full with Portland’s star guard. Lillard is averaging 26.4 points and 6.3 assists per game. He is shooting 45 percent from the field and 37.2 percent from three-point range.
Lillard was recently named an All-Star and is the big reason Portland has taken a step forward and become one of the best teams in the Western Conference.
Free NBA ATS Picks
The Blazers have won six of their past seven games and will aim to keep it going in this one. It seems like Portland should have no issue remaining on this winning track, while Miami’s woes are expected to continue.
The Heat has done a nice job on the road this year but the talent gulf is too big in this one. The Blazers might not have the services of standout forward Jusuf Nurkic if he is unable to return from a knee injury, but Lillard and C.J. McCollom will lead the way to a Portland win in NBA odds.
NBA ATS Pick: Portland Trail Blazers 111, Miami Heat 104
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