NBA Betting Odds and Predictions: Miami Heat vs. Philadelphia 76ers

Miami Heat at Philadelphia 76ers
Wednesday, 3/13/13, 7:00 PM EST, TV: SUN
Opening Point Spread: Miami -8.5
Current Betting Line: Miami -8.5
Opening Total: 194.5
Current Total: 193
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

76ers Heat NBA Playoffs Game 4 Preview — The Miami Heat have won 13 consecutive regular-season meetings with the Philadelphia 76ers

Miami has won 19 games in a row, including a 98-81 victory over the Atlanta Hawks as 9.5-point home favorites Tuesday night, while going UNDER the posted total of 197.5. “This is an unbelievable streak that we’re on,” commented Heat forward LeBron James. The Heat have beaten the 76ers twice during the run, while they’ve also captured the last 13 regular-season meetings by an average of 12.5 points. The team is 18-11 overall on the road this season, including a 9-7 mark versus Eastern Conference opponents. Miami is 4-0 SUATS as road favorites of 6.5 to 9 points this season, which can’t be ignored when looking over the pro basketball odds page.

The Heat are an NBA-best 12-0 since the All-Star break, while going 9-1 on the second night of a back-to-back set during the 2012-13 campaign. Miami’s current win streak is tied for the fifth-longest in NBA history, but is still 14 games away from the all-time mark of 33 set by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1970’s. Offensively, the team is shooting 49.5 percent from the field and 38.7 percent from beyond the arc, which are both franchise-highs in those categories.

Philadelphia snapped a five-game losing streak last time out, as it captured a 106-97 victory over the Brooklyn Nets as 6.5-point home underdogs Monday night, while going OVER the total of 184.5. “The quality of our shots have been better,” commented Sixers coach Doug Collins. The 76ers are 18-16 at the Wells Fargo Center this season, including an 11-9 mark versus conference rivals. Philadelphia is 1-8 SU and 3-6 ATS off an upset win as an underdog, which is important to consider when making your NBA picks against the spread.

The 76ers have scored 100-plus points just once over the past 17 meetings with the Heat, as they’ve averaged just 91.5 points in two games this season against them. Philadelphia is led by point guard Jrue Holiday on the offensive end, averaging 18.5 points and 8.7 assists per game, but he also leads the league in committing 3.9 turnovers.