The Miami Heat (7-5) face the New York Knicks (7-4) in NBA Cup group play Friday. Tip-off from Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York, is set for 7 p.m. ET (Prime Video). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NBA odds around the Heat vs. Knicks odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Miami leads 1-0 after 115-107 victory as 3-point home dogs Oct. 26.
The Heat split a 2-game set with the Cleveland Cavaliers at home Monday and Wednesday. The later was a 130-116 loss as 4.5-point favorites. They’re without their 2 best players in C Bam Adebayo (toe) and F Tyler Herro (ankle). G Norman Powell had 27 points on 5-for-10 shooting from downtown Wednesday. The loss snapped a 3-game winning streak.
The Knicks’ 5-game winning streak was snapped with a 124-107 loss to the Orlando Magic on a back-to-back Wednesday. They were 4-point favorites as G Jalen Brunson (ankle), who’s out Friday, had 31 points. F Karl-Anthony Towns had 15 points, 12 boards and 4 assists. He’ll have to put the team on his back against the short-handed Heat.
Heat at Knicks odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:37 p.m. ET.
Moneyline (ML): Heat +195 (bet $100 to win $195) | Knicks -235 (bet $235 to win $100)Against the spread (ATS): Heat +6.5 (-115) | Knicks -6.5 (-105)Over/Under (O/U): 239.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)Heat at Knicks key injuries
Heat
C Bam Adebayo (toe) outF Tyler Herro (ankle) outG Terry Rozier III (personal) out
Knicks
G Jalen Brunson (ankle) out
For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.
Heat at Knicks picks and predictionsPrediction
Knicks 129, Heat 124
I have zero faith in the Heat with the cast of characters they’re throwing out there. I’m also not interested in a Brunson-less Knicks squad at -235.
Instead, give me KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS OVER 15.5 REBOUNDS + ASSISTS (-110). We project at least 12 boards with Adebayo out, and he had 18 boards against Miami earlier this year.
I don’t like this spread either. The Heat haven’t won in this building in the last 3 years. So, let’s get creative. SGP KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS 1 THREE-POINTER + KNICKS ALTERNATE SPREAD -3.5 (-135). KAT has hit at least 1 trey in 6 of 7, and he’ll be leaned upon more with Brunson out.
The Heat have cashed 3 straight Overs, and the Knicks have cashed 4 straight. Miami actually put 140 on Cleveland 2 games ago without Adebayo. I look for a high-paced game and the OVER 239.5 (-110) clearing.
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