Miami Heat at Philadelphia 76ers Expert NBA Picks Against the Spread 2/21/2019

Thursday, February 21, 2019

Wells Fargo Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Miami Heat travel to Wells Fargo Center to play the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday, February 21, 2019. The opening line for this matchup has Philadelphia as 8.5 point favorites.

The Heat head into this matchup with a mark of 26-30. They are 2nd in the Southeast Division. They have a point differential of -0.6 as they average 105.1 points per contest while giving up 105.7 per game. The 76ers have an overall mark of 37-21. They currently are 3rd in the Atlantic Division. They total 115.9 points per contest and give up 112.2, which is a point differential of 3.7.

Valuable Miami Heat Betting Trends

The Miami Heat are 28-27-1 against the spread

The Miami Heat are 28-27-0 against the over/under

Important Philadelphia 76ers Betting Trends

The Philadelphia 76ers are 28-30-0 against the spread

The Philadelphia 76ers are 30-27-0 against the over/under

Key Miami Heat Injuries

12/19/18 PG Goran Dragic Knee is out indefinitely
01/28/19 SF Derrick Jones Jr. Knee is out indefinitely

Key Philadelphia 76ers Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Josh Richardson comes into this contest averaging 17.6 points per game while playing 34.7 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 3.6 rebounds per game and dishes out 3.9 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 42% while his free throw percentage currently sits at 86%. Hassan Whiteside averages 12.8 points per game in 25.4 minutes per contest this season. He averages 0.9 assists per contest and 12.4 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 55% for the year while his free throw percentage is 44%.

Player Spotlight

Joel Embiid averages 27.3 points per game while playing 33.7 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 13.5 rebounds per game and has 3.5 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 48% and his free throw percentage is at 81%. Ben Simmons averages 16.8 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 33.8 minutes per contest. He also averages 9.0 rebounds per contest and 7.9 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 57% and his free throw percentage is 59%.

Useful Team Statistics

Miami averages 105.1 points per contest this season, which ranks them 27th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is -0.6 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a team, which has them ranked 26th. Behind the arc they shoot 35% which is good for 16th in the league. They average 46.7 rebounds per game and 23.8 assists per game, which ranks them 7th and 19th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 5th with 15.3 per game. The Heat allow 105.7 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 3rd in the league. They also allow a 44% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the arc, ranking them 3rd and 22nd in those defensive categories. Opponents average 43.8 rebounds a game which ranks 9th and they give up 22.8 assists per contest, which puts them in 2nd place in the league. They force 13.9 turnovers per game which ranks them 14th in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Philadelphia is 3rd in the league with 115.9 points per game this year. They are 6th in the league in shooting at 48%, while their average scoring margin is 3.7. They shoot 36% from 3-point range, which is good for 8th in the NBA. They are 6th in the league in rebounding with 47.0 boards per game, and 3rd in assists per contest with 27.4. The 76ers are 4th in turnovers per game with 15.5. The 76ers surrender 112.2 points per contest, which ranks them 20th in the NBA. Their defense allows a 45% shooting percentage and a 35% average from 3-point range, ranking them 9th and 7th in those defensive statistics. They rank 6th with 23.1 assists allowed per contest and 4th with 43.1 rebounds surrendered per game. The 76ers are 8th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 13.4 per game.

Advanced Statistics

The Heat are 24th in the NBA in offensive rating with 106.7, and their defensive rating of 107.3 is ranked 6th. In terms of pace they are 24th in the league with 98.3 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 51% is 23rd. As a team they are 28th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 38% of their shots, ranking 9th in the league. Miami is 3rd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.5 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 51%, which is 29th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Philadelphia is 7th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 11.6 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 51%, which is 27th in the league. The 76ers are 10th in the NBA in offensive rating with 112.9, and their defensive rating of 109.3 is ranked 13th. In terms of pace they are 7th in the league with 101.7 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 54% is 3rd. As a team they are 3rd in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shots, ranking 14th in the league.

Who will win tonight's Heat/76ers NBA game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take Philadelphia -8.5

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