New York Knicks vs Miami Heat Prediction & Betting Tips - NBA

Prediction published on 30/04/2023, 01:46  by Joseph King | Modified on 30/04/2023 at 01:46 in NBA Predictions

An old-school classic Eastern Conference rivalry is set to tip off for the second round of the 2023 NBA Playoffs with the New York Knicks taking on the Miami Heat. The Heat are coming off a sensational 4-1 series win over the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round, becoming only the sixth ever eighth-seed team to knock off the number one seed in NBA history. Meanwhile, the Knicks prevailed against the higher-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers to ultimately win their first round series also by a score of 4-1, advancing to the second round for only the second time in the last 20 years. The oddsmakers have the fifth-seed Knicks as 1.63 favorites to advance to a Conference Finals matchup against either the 76ers or the Celtics. The Heat come in as 2.40 underdogs to advance to their third Conference Finals in the last four seasons. 

Miami didn’t have the best of regular seasons but boy have they sure turned it on when it counts. While they were massive underdogs to beat the Bucks, it shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise with this team that has simply shown the ability to duke it out and win games over the last few seasons. With arguably the best coach in the NBA in Erik Spoelstra and one of the biggest dogs in the league in Jimmy Butler, Miami will likely prove to be an extremely tough out for any opposition. The Heat now enter this matchup having won three straight games and five of their last six. However, the loss of former Sixth Man of the Year Tyler Herro will be a significant absence for the visitors who will attempt to get this series started with an away win in Madison Square Garden.

The Knicks rolled through the favored Cavaliers in their first round matchup, proving that they weren’t just a flash in the pan in the regular season. With hard-as-nails head coach Tom Thibodeau calling the shots, New York have established themselves as a legitimate threat to come out of the East especially now that the former conference favorite Milwaukee was sent home early. The Knicks have been on fire since December, amassing a 41-21 record since the first week of that month. They’ve also been one of the league’s best defenses during that stretch and have an extremely underrated offense which ranks in the top five over the same time period. Expect a throwback to the 90s here in what should be a physical battle between two historic rivals.