Brooklyn vs Miami NBA Betting Odds
Entering the 2013-14 NBA season, the Brooklyn Nets and Miami Heat were slated to be two of the top teams out East approaching the regular season as a simple warmup for the playoffs. [ad-4468020]
Brooklyn (32-30) @ Miami (44-17)
Wednesday, March 12 7:00 PM ET ESPN @ AmericanAirlines Center
Spread: Miami -9 / OU: 201 (-105)
[dfads params=’groups=63740&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
ATS Matchup Insight | CP Insider Gambling Preview
As it turns out, the Nets have been a major disappointment, but they’ve managed to move their way up to the sixth seed with just about a month left to go in the year.
Brooklyn
Despite improvements after the New Year, the Brooklyn Nets are still a far cry from being a contender. Age has caught up to them quickly, and while it’s easy to hope that Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce return to form for the postseason, the simple fact is that the East is a two-horse race with the Indiana Pacers and Miami Heat leading the way.
Check out our in-house Handicapper!!! Buy Razor Ray’s NBA Picks!
All that said, nothing is guaranteed in the NBA when it comes to any given night.
The Heat are coming off of a nine-point win over the Washington Wizards, but entering that contest, they had lost three straight to three playoff squads, including a Derrick Rose-less Chicago Bulls that, like Brooklyn, won’t be competing for a title if Miami and Indiana have it their way.
[ad-6571516]
Although it’s easier said than done, Brooklyn must hope to contain LeBron James. Chicago help the reigning regular-season and Finals MVP to just 17 points, and while the star forward did collect three steals, eight assists and nine rebounds in the process, Chicago’s holding him to 8-of-23 shooting was the difference maker.
Miami
Despite Brooklyn’s struggles on the year, the Heat have fallen twice in two outings to their Eastner Conference foe. Game 1 went the Nets’ way 101-100, while the second, and overtime showdown back on Jan. 10, saw the heat fall 104-95.
Based on those two contests, this one figures to be a battle. That said, Miami realizes that it is within striking distance of first place out East, giving the team from South Beach extra motivation to come out and show what it can do against a squad that has (brutally honest) been mediocre at best most of the year.
If Miami has any added luxury in this one is that the Nets could possibly be without Kevin Garnett and Andrei Kirilenko.
The last thing Brooklyn needs here is to be shorthanded, especially on the road against one of the best teams in the NBA.
Look for the Nets to come out with a ton of energy, but don’t be shocked if Miami walks away on the right side of the scoreboard for the first time in this regular season series.
Prediction: Miami 107 – Brooklyn 95
