Miami Heat vs Los Angeles Lakers Prediction & Betting Tips - NBA

Prediction published on 28/12/2022, 08:27  by Joseph King | Modified on 28/12/2022 at 08:27 in NBA Predictions

A rematch of the 2020 NBA Finals sees the Miami Heat taking on the Los Angeles Lakers at the FTX Arena in South Beach. The hosts come into this match looking to move into a playoff position as they currently sit ninth in the Eastern Conference with a record of 17 wins and 17 losses. Miami is coming off a 113-110 home victory over the Timberwolves on Monday, a result which snapped a two game losing streak and brought their record back to .500 on the season. They’ll now look to build some momentum as we approach the halfway mark of the season. Things haven’t gone according to plan for the Heat in the first act of the regular season given that Miami topped the East last season with a record of 53 wins and 29 losses. 

They’ll come up against a Lakers team that was finally able to put an end to a four game losing streak with a 129-110 win over the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night. It’s been another difficult season for LeBron James and company who look set to miss out on the playoffs yet again as LA holds a record of just 14 wins and 20 losses, putting them 13th in the Western Conference standings. Los Angeles has struggled since star player Anthony Davis went down with an injury and they have only managed to win three of the nine games that Davis has missed this season. 

Making things even tougher for the Lakers is the fact that they will have to play this game as the second of a road back-to-back. LeBron James has had a history of “load managing” and sitting out in this type of scenario in recent seasons and there is a chance he does the same here. Meanwhile, Miami will be hoping to get one or both of either Jimmy Butler and/or Bam Adebayo to return to action, both of who are listed as questionable after missing out on the win over the TWolves.