Miami Heat vs Portland Trail Blazers Prediction & Betting Tips - NBA

Prediction published on 29/03/2024, 06:45  by Devesh Jaganath in NBA Predictions

The Portland Trail Blazers will head to the Kaseya Center to face the Miami Heat in the NBA on Friday night. The hosts are 39-33 and seventh in the Eastern Conference, while the visitors are 19-54 and 14th in the Western Conference. 

The Portland Trail Blazers are currently positioned 14th in the Western Conference standings and are gearing up for the NBA Draft Lottery in May. They're going through a rough patch, having lost 12 of their last 14 games. Their main goal now is to break an eight-game losing streak following their recent 120-106 defeat to the Hawks on the road. Delano Banton led the team with 31 points and nine assists coming off the bench, with Tounami Camara contributing 17 points. Portland ranks 28th in scoring in the NBA, averaging 107.6 points per game, while the Miami Heat are fourth defensively, allowing only 108.9 points per game. Defensively, the Blazers are conceding 115.8 points per game, placing them 17th in the league. Due to injuries, the Blazers have fielded an all-rookie lineup for three consecutive games, resulting in an 0-3 record within that stretch and extending their overall losing streak to eight games. Deandre Ayton, Jerami Grant, Matisse Thybulle, Malcolm Brogdon, Anfernee Simons, and Shaedon Sharpe are all sidelined with injuries.

The Miami Heat are locked in a tight battle with the Indiana Pacers and Philadelphia 76ers as they vie for the sixth spot in the Eastern Conference, aiming to avoid the playoff play-in round for the second consecutive season. While they've won four of their last seven games overall, they are determined to rebound strongly in their upcoming match after a heavy 113-92 loss to the Warriors on Tuesday. Bam Adebayo led the team with 24 points, nine rebounds, and five assists, while Terry Rozier and Haywood Highsmith each contributed 15 points. Despite being the NBA's 27th-ranked scoring team, averaging 109.3 points per game, which is 6.5 points less than what the Trail Blazers allow (115.8), the Heat excel defensively, ranking fourth overall by allowing just 108.9 points per game. However, they face challenges with Tyler Hero sidelined, while Duncan Robinson and Kevin Love's availability remains uncertain.