Lakers & Heat Combined 11-3-1 ATS; Los Angeles Laying 8 Points on Friday Night

• Lakers have reeled off six straight wins since losing on opening night
• Miami’s young roster shaping nicely around Jimmy Butler
• Get the odds, our pick, and all the info you need to bet the game below

Two of the best teams in basketball clash at Staples Center as the Miami Heat (6-2, 3-2 away) visit the Los Angeles Lakers (6-1, 3-0 home) Friday night.

The Lakers are returning from a perfect 3-0 road trip, powered by the resurgent play of LeBron James, while the Heat have been one of the best surprises of the young season, as an influx of new talent has arrived earlier than expected to surround newly-signed star Jimmy Butler.

Miami Heat vs Los Angeles Lakers Odds

*Odds taken November 7

The Heat vs Lakers odds show that Miami has been quite successful against the spread on the road this year, going 3-1-1, while the Lakers have covered in all three of their home games. Let’s find out what the best bet is for this one.

LeBron James as Dominant as Ever

What a throwback road trip for LeBron James, who looked every bit the all-world player he was prior to injuring his groin on Christmas day last year against the Warriors. While many anticipated this was the year Anthony Davis took the reins while James rode shotgun as the most overqualified second-star in NBA history, the King showed the throne is still his.

If you give him 5 extra minutes, he'll do this to you. @KingJames dominates overtime for a fourth straight #LakersWin 👑💪 pic.twitter.com/fCIONCQkou

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) November 2, 2019

He posted three monster triple-doubles in Dallas, San Antonio and in Chicago, the first Laker to accomplish that mark since Magic Johnson in 1990. That put the Lakers on a six-game win streak, and into top spot in the NBA standings.

But what might be the most encouraging sign for the Purple and Gold is that they’re getting it done on defense. Yes, Showtime is on both ends of the floor, with the Lakers tied for third in the NBA in points allowed, giving up just 101.1 a night.

Lockdown defense by the Lakers 🔒

https://t.co/DpVlsLw9dn

— NBA SKITS (@NBA_Skits) November 4, 2019

They own the no. 1 defensive rating in the league, and are also tops in blocks at 8.4 a game, while fifth in steals.

They’re only 16th in scoring, but because of that defense, they’ve helped build the second highest point differential in the league at +9.9, trailing only the Milwaukee Bucks.

Miami Ahead of Schedule

The Heat were supposed to be in the throes of a mid-build. They had secured their star player in Jimmy Butler, and with a lineup of very good role players both young (Justice Winslow, Bam Adebayo) and old (Goran Dragic, James Johnson, Kelly Olynyk), the thinking was there was a move to be made to pair Butler with another star.

And then the kids showed up.

https://twitter.com/Scott_Charlton/status/1191137889855442951

First round pick Tyler Herro is a walking Mike Miller 2.0, averaging 13.7 points and 5.6 rebounds. Undrafted guard Kendrick Nunn is leading the team in scoring at 18.1 points a game while stroking it at a 40.9% clip from deep. And second-year man Duncan Robinson is averaging 10 points a night and shooting 44.7% from three-point range.

Kendrick Nunn came out of the gate on 🔥 pic.twitter.com/k0MskouF8X

— Bleacher Report NBA (@BR_NBA) October 31, 2019

Suddenly, Miami looks like a top-four seed in the East. At least.

The Heat are eighth in the NBA in scoring at 115 points a game, fourth in assists at 25.9 a contest and first in three-point shooting at 40.5%. But they haven’t forgotten their bread and butter under Erik Spoelstra: the Heat are ninth in points allowed per game, second in the league in steals and tops in three-point percentage D at 28.3%.

Who’s the Best Bet?

What we haven’t mentioned is just how good the rest of the Lakers have been. Dwight Howard is the best backup big man in basketball right now, and Kyle Kuzma appears to have found his legs in Chicago. Danny Green has been a deadeye shooter and dependable defender, and JaVale McGee, Quinn Cook and Alex Caruso are doing well in spot minutes.

Lakers’ Anthony Davis tells me he didn’t think he & LeBron James were going to be able to connect as fast as they did in the pick & roll: https://t.co/961jt6yfun

“He had a lot of stuff going on in the summer with Space Jam. So we didn’t get a lot of time to work out together.“ pic.twitter.com/6ZXoBf1p3U

— 👑 Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson (@ScoopB) November 7, 2019

Oh, and Anthony Davis is freaking unreal, posting 26.6 points, 10.9 rebounds and three blocks a game. He’s been named NBA player of the week and, at times, it still looks like he’s finding his way. Scary.

Look for the Heat to challenge early, but after playing and winning the night before in Phoenix, LeBron and the Lakers should eventually take charge, making buckets hard to come by, and win going away.

The Pick: Lakers -8 (-115)