Nets vs Heat Odds and Picks

• The Brooklyn Nets visit the Miami Heat at 8pm ET on Saturday, Feb. 12th in Miami
• The Nets enter the game at 29-26 overall, while the Heat come in at 36-20 on the year
• See below for the latest odds, analysis and the best bet

A battle between two teams viewed as favorites to win the NBA Championship tips off at 8pm ET on Saturday, Feb. 12th when the Brooklyn Nets visit the Miami Heat at FTX Arena in Miami.

Brooklyn enters the game at 29-26 on the year and has lost 10 straight games to remain as the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. The Nets are coming off of a close 113-112 loss to the Washington Wizards on Thursday in the nation’s capital.

Miami comes into the contest at 36-20 overall and is 7-3 in its last 10 games, sitting atop the East standings with the best record in the conference. The Heat most recently defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 112-97 on Thursday in New Orleans.

Nets vs Heat Odds

Odds as of Feb. 11th from FanDuel.

Going into the game, the Heat are 10.5-point favorites over the Nets. Take a look below to see how that could play out.

Rough Times in Brooklyn

To say the Nets have struggled as of late would be an understatement, both on and off the court.

On the court, Brooklyn enters Saturday having lost 10 straight, its longest losing skid of the season. No team has ever gone through that type of losing streak and ended up winning the NBA title. Off the court, drama has followed the Nets most recently with James Harden and his desire to be traded, something that ended up taking place at the trade deadline when he was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers in a blockbuster trade that returned Ben Simmons — who has yet to play this year — to Brooklyn.

Part of the reason for the recent rough stretch for the Nets has been due to one-third of their big three being absent from the lineup. Kevin Durant (knee) has missed the last 13 games, along with role players Joe Harris (ankle) and LaMarcus Aldridge (ankle) also still out. Kyrie Irving will be on the floor with the game being played away from Brooklyn, but even with Irving in the lineup, the Nets are just 4-9 in his 13 appearances leading up to Saturday.

The Nets could get newcomers Andre Drummond and Seth Curry, who were part of the Harden/Simmons trade, but they are listed as questionable ahead of the game.

Are Heat Favorites in the East?

As the season progresses, Miami continues to establish itself as one of the top teams in the East and NBA at large. The Heat have continued to surge up the standings, leading the conference by one game over the Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers in second place.

One thing that has made the Heat a feared team and one to beat in both the conference and the league is their success at home, which will be a key factor in Saturday’s game against the Nets. Miami currently holds a conference-leading record of 18-6 at home, having won eight of the last 10 home contests.

The Heat have also managed to win four in a row despite being a bit shorthanded without the likes of Tyler Herro — who has missed the last two games with a knee injury and is questionable against the Nets — Victor Oladipo (knee) and Markieff Morris (reconditioning) in the lineup. Whenever those three players get back on the court, along with P.J. Tucker (knee) who is questionable, Miami will become even more dangerous.

Part of the success of the Heat this season has been their dominance on both ends of the floor, ranking sixth in defensive rating (108) and seventh in offensive rating (108.9). They will rely on that play on both ends when the Nets come to town Saturday.

Prediction and Best Bet

Saturday’s game marks the second of four matchups between Brooklyn and Miami this year, with the Heat taking the first game 106-93 in October in Brooklyn. Miami has taken the last two games against Brooklyn stretching back to the end of last season, and it should be able to extend that streak to three in a row on Saturday.

Miami will prove to be too tough for a shorthanded and struggling Brooklyn squad to overcome, especially with the Heat playing at home where they are even tougher to face. Expect Miami to grab its 19th win at home and extend its winning streak to five in a row with a win.

For the best bet of the night, go with the over of 219.5 listed at FanDuel. Miami is 34-22 this season in hitting the over, with Brooklyn holding a 26-28-1 mark.

• The Pick: Over 219.5 (-110)