Toronto at Miami
Time: 6 PM ET
Line: MIA -6
M/L: MIA -250; TOR +210
Total: 198.5
Betting Odds courtesy of 5dimes
The Miami Heat picked up an easy victory over instate rival Orlando on Sat night, winning 110-94. The Heat were able to rest its starters a little, though LeBron James and Dwyane Wade each logged 36 minutes in the game. The Magic trailed by just two at the half way point, but Miami dominated the second half and extended its lead to 11 at the end of three quarters.
Chris Bosh had an excellent game, hitting all nine of his field goals en route to 20 points and six boards. The Magic were without starting 5-man Nikola Vucevic, who set the franchise record for rebounds against Bosh and the Heat last year, though, so the Heat received an easy break getting the Magic without its franchise big man.
Tonight the Heat will host the Toronto Raptors, a team that is doing better than most expected it would prior to the season. Toronto is 16-15 on the season and doesn’t appear to be missing the traded Rudy Gay at all. DeMar DeRozan has embraced the role of being the primary scorer and is averaging a career high 20.9 points per game.
The Raps have flirted with trading Kyle Lowry, but when he plays he’s a great jack-of-all-trades point guard and good rebounder. Lowry is averaging 15.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and 7.5 assists per game. Jonas Valanciunas is developing well and has a great deal of skill for a seven-footer, and Greivis Vasquez is a good option to replace Lowry should the Raps deal him.
Key Matchup: DeMar DeRozan vs. Dwyane Wade
Dwyane Wade may not be called upon as heavily offensively with his big duty tonight chasing DeMar DeRozan around screens and stopping his dribble penetration. DeRozan has scored 20 or more in four of his last five games, and even put up 26 points against Paul George and the Indiana Pacers, so Wade has his work cut out for him. Though Wade has slowed a couple steps with age, he’s still a very good defender and will look to force DeRozan left and try to force jumpers.
TOR TRENDS: 5-0 ATS in last 5 overall; 4-0 ATS in last 4 following ATS win; 4-0 ATS in last 4 following SU win.
MIA TRENDS: OVER 5-0 in last 5 when opponent scores 100 or more in previous game; 4-0 ATS in last 4 on 0 days rest; OVER 8-0 in last 8 home games.
Head-to-head: 0-4 ATS in last 4 meetings; 8-3 ATS in last 11 meetings in Miami.
