Toronto Raptors vs Miami Heat Prediction & Betting Tips - NBA

Prediction published on 17/01/2024, 07:30  by Devesh Jaganath in NBA Predictions

The Miami Heat head to Scotiabank Arena to face the Toronto Raptors in the NBA on Wednesday night. The hosts are 15-25 and 12th in the Eastern Conference, while the visitors are 24-16 and currently in fifth place. 

The Miami Heat have been in impressive form, securing victories in nine of their last 13 games overall, and they look to extend their success with a potential fourth consecutive win following a hard-fought 96-95 overtime road triumph against the Nets on Monday. Jimmy Butler led the charge with 31 points on 8-of-12 shooting, while Tyler Herro added 29 points and 11 rebounds on 11-of-22 shooting. Despite ranking 25th in the NBA's scoring charts with an average of 111.9 points per game, the Heat's defensive prowess shines, allowing just 110.6 points per game, the second-best record in the league. Notably, over their last three matches, Miami have impressively limited opponents to an average of just 92.7 points per game. As they prepare for their next game, Kevin Love, Dru Smith, and Jaime Jaquez Jr. are likely to be sidelined.

Meanwhile, the Toronto Raptors find themselves in a challenging stretch, having lost five of their last six games overall. They aim to break a four-game slide after succumbing to a 105-96 defeat against the Celtics on Monday, with RJ Barrett leading the team with 24 points, nine rebounds, and four assists on 11-of-19 shooting, complemented by Immanuel Quickley's 21 points. Toronto currently ranks 17th in scoring in the NBA, averaging 115 points per game, while the Miami squad boasts the second-best defensive record in the league, allowing 110.6 points per game. Defensively, the Raptors concede an average of 116.8 points per game, placing them 18th in the league. The team is currently dealing with some injury concerns, with Jakob Poeltl, Christian Koloko, Otto Porter Jr, Gradey Dick, and Gary Trent Jr all listed as doubtful for the upcoming match.