Nets vs Heat Odds & Picks (Jan. 8)
By Chris Amberley in NBA Basketball
Published:
- Brooklyn is a 3.5-point favorite over Miami in the Nets vs Heat odds on Sunday
- The Nets lead the NBA in Net Rating over the past 14 games with a 10.3 mark
- Check out the latest Nets vs Heat odds, injury news and predictions below
If there’s one team you don’t want to face right now it’s the Brooklyn Nets. That’s further amplified if you’re like the Miami Heat, and are dealing with a laundry list of injuries.
Three-fifths of the Heat’s starting roster is on the injury report ahead of Sunday’s tilt with the Nets, and that plus the ridiculous run that Brooklyn is on, has oddsmakers feeling bullish on KD and Co. in the NBA odds.
Nets vs Heat Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brooklyn Nets | -3.5 (-110) | -158 | O 221.5 (-110) |
| Miami Heat | +3.5 (-110) | +134 | U 221.5 (-110) |
Odds as of January 7 at Barstool. Claim the Barstool Sportsbook promo code to bet on the Nets vs Heat game.
The Nets are currently 3.5-point road favorites, in a contest with a 221.5-point total. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:10 pm ET at FTX Arena in Miami, FL, and will mark the Heat’s first game back home after a five-game road trip.
Nets vs Heat Betting Analysis
Let’s start with Miami’s injury woes. Six Heat players are on the injury report ahead of Sunday, with two other members of the team on IR. That list includes three starters, most notably Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro. Adebayo (thigh) played in Miami’s 104-96 win over Phoenix on Friday, while Herro (back) did not.
Both are listed as questionable for the matchup with Brooklyn, while fellow starter Caleb Martin (quad) is doubtful. Reserves Gabe Vincent, Dewayne Dedmon and Udonis Haslem are considered probable, but the Heat will need all hands on deck if they want any shot at upsetting the Nets.
NBA INJURY ALERT: Heat C Bam Adebayo (thigh) and PG/SG Tyler Herro (back) are listed questionable for Sunday's game vs. the Nets. pic.twitter.com/nlKGUzpegQ
— DraftKings Network (@DKNetwork) January 7, 2023
After a slow start to the season, Miami has turned things around. The Heat (21-19, 11-8 home) have won nine of 13, and rank fifth in the NBA in Net Rating over that stretch. Miami’s run includes a handful of wins over playoff contenders, but none that have been playing anywhere close to as well as Brooklyn.
The Nets (26-13, 13-8 away) have won 13 of their last 14 games and have climbed all the way up to the East’s second seed. Only Boston and Milwaukee currently boast a shorter price in the NBA Championship odds, while Brooklyn has been by far the best team in the league over the last month.
The Nets lead the NBA in Net Rating over the past 14 games with a 10.3 mark. They’ve been the league’s best offense during that stretch as well averaging 122.1 points per 100 possessions, and a top-six defense.
This is awesome.
Jacque Vaughn draws up the play for KD, but KD interjects and says “you should run that for Kyrie.”
Vaughn trusted his player(s), Kyrie makes the game-winner and the rest is history #NetsWorld @KyrieIrving @KDTrey5 pic.twitter.com/KiXTePUm5L
— Mike (@Mike_NYY) January 4, 2023
Kevin Durant is making a run at his second trophy in the NBA MVP odds, and is averaging 34 points per night over his last three outings. He’s shooting a career best 56% from the field this season, while his running mate Kyrie Irving is back playing at an elite level.
Irving is averaging 26 points per game, and he, Durant and Ben Simmons all have individual offensive ratings north of 118.0 over the last month.
Nets vs Heat Predictions
With all the injury concerns surrounding Miami, a play on Brooklyn as the 3.5-point chalk checks all the boxes. The Nets are not only playing better than anyone else in the league at the moment, but they’re also winning with margin.
NBA Net Rating Ranks – Last 14 Games
| Team | Rank |
|---|---|
| Brooklyn Nets | 1 |
| Memphis Grizzlies | 2 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | 3 |
| New York Knicks | 4 |
| Denver Nuggets | 5 |
Eight of their 13 wins during their incredible run have come by at least six points, with five of those victories coming by double-digits. They’re 8-1 straight up on the road during that stretch, covering six times.
Miami has been a spread crusher as well over the last month, but they are simply not equipped at the moment to go toe-to-toe with this Brooklyn juggernaut. Lay the 3.5 points with the Nets.
Pick: Brooklyn Nets -3.5 (-110)
Sports Writer
As SBD's resident Swiss Army Knife, Chris covers virtually every sport including NFL, PGA, NBA, MLB, NCAAB, NCAAF and the Olympics. A true grinder, he'd rather pick off small edges in the player props market than swing for the fences with a 5-leg parlay.
