Miami Heat vs Charlotte Hornets Prediction & Betting Tips - NBA

Prediction published on 13/12/2023, 05:50  by Devesh Jaganath in NBA Predictions

The Miami Heat (13-10 eighth in the Eastern Conference) are at home against the Charlotte Hornets (7-14 13th in the Eastern Conference) on Wednesday, December 13, 2023. 

Miami hung on down the stretch to beat the Hornets for the second time in as many meetings this season on Monday night. Miami shot 48.1% from the field, including 15 of 35 from three-point range, and won the rebounding battle 43-31. Duncan Robinson led the Heat with 24 points and seven rebounds in the win. The Heat have improved to 13-10 on the year and stand second in the Southeast Division, three games behind the Magic for the top spot. The Heat enters this one 21st in the league in scoring offense with 112.6 points per game this season and stands 9th in the league in scoring defense as they allow 111.7 points per game. Miami are 4-0 against the rest of their division. Heat are averaging 116.4 points, 40.4 rebounds, 27.6 assists, 6.2 steals and 3.0 blocks per game over their last ten. Tyler Herro (ankle) and Bam Adebayo (hip) are ruled out of action for the foreseeable future, while Haywood Highsmith is a doubt. 

Charlotte battled to the end but came up a bucket short on their home floor against the Heat on Monday night. They trailed by five after the opening quarter, by nine at the half, and by 12 after three quarters before rallying. Terry Rozier led the Hornets with 34 points and 13 assists in the loss.  The Hornets got within one on a few occasions in the final period, the last with nine seconds to play, but couldn’t take the lead. Charlotte shot 47.6% from the field, including 17 of 41 from three-point range. On the season, the Hornets are 17th in the league in scoring offense with 113.4 points per game and 26th in scoring defense as they allow an average of 121 points per game. Charlotte is 7-11 against conference opponents, while over the last ten they are averaging 113.3 points, 40.0 rebounds, 27.8 assists, 6.5 steals and 5.1 blocks per game. Cody Martin (knee), Frank Ntilkina (leg), and LaMelo Ball are all out with injuries for this match, while Nick Smith Jr. (ankle) and Mark Williams (back), who missed Monday’s game, are flagged as doubts for this one.