Miami Heat vs Indiana Pacers Prediction & Betting Tips - NBA

Prediction published on 02/12/2023, 02:50  by Joseph King | Modified on 02/12/2023 at 03:40 in NBA Predictions

The 11-8 Miami Heat host the 9-8 Indiana Pacers for their second meeting in the past three days. A 142-132 win for the Heat on Thursday saw them build their lead over their opponents to two games as these teams are separated by just one spot in the Eastern Conference standings. Miami is sixth in the East while Indiana is seventh ahead of their Saturday evening clash. The Heat were able to get the job done despite star center Bam Adebayo being forced to leave the game after just 12 minutes with a hip injury. Jimmy Butler shouldered the offensive load, dropping 36 points on 9-18 shooting which included 18-20 from the free throw line. The victory snapped a three game losing streak for the Heat and improved their record at the Kaseya Center to 5-2 on the year.

The loss on Thursday was the second in a row for the Pacers as well as the third defeat in their last four outings. Indiana will hope to snap out of their losing run before heading back home to the Bankers Life Fieldhouse to take on Boston in the quarter-finals of the NBA’s In-Season Tournament. The upcoming contest with the Celtics presents an interesting dynamic for this matchup. While both Saturday’s game against the Heat and Monday’s game against the Celtics both count as regular season games, there’s obviously more incentive on the latter with progression in the tournament on the line. Therefore, Indiana may opt not to risk star point guard Tyrese Haliburton, who is currently listed as questionable on the injury report with a right knee bruise. Haliburton dropped 44 points and dished out 10 assists in the defeat on Thursday.