NBA Basketball Handicapping: Cleveland Cavaliers at Miami Heat Betting Predictions

Cleveland Cavaliers at Miami Heat
Wednesday, 12/15/10, 7:30 PM EDT, TV: Sun Sports
Opening Point Spread: Miami -18
Current Betting Line: Miami -17.5
Opening Total: 195
Current Total: 194.5

The Miami Heat have won nine-straight games by double-digits and will host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night at the American Airlines Arena

Cleveland is really starting to feel the effects of life without its superstar and will face him on Wednesday night at the American Airlines Arena. The Cavaliers have lost eight in a row overall and nine in a row on the road, while coming off an embarrassing 106-77 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. “It’s hard to know why,” said forward Anderson Varejao on the team’s struggles. “When things go wrong, they go wrong. We want to win badly.” The squad has won five of its last six games against the Heat and three in a row in Miami, but all of that success was with LeBron James in the starting lineup, but he will be suiting up against his former team for the second time this season. Cleveland is 4-9 ATS on the road this season and currently a double-digit underdog on the NBA lines page.

The Cavaliers are going to need a huge night from their bench in order to have any shot of pulling off a monumental-type upset, as the unit is first in the NBA in scoring by averaging 43.0 points per game. Cleveland’s reserves have outscored its opponent’s bench in all but eight games this season. The team has also been very protective of the basketball, leading the league in fewest turnovers at 13.2 per game, but totaled 16 turnovers against Oklahoma City last time out. In losing its past eight games, it’s important to note that four of those came by at least 20 points and they will now face a squad that has won nine straight games by double-digits.

Miami hasn’t lost a game since its 118-90 demolition of tonight’s opponent in James’ return to the Quicken Loans Arena and he will be front and center in this contest. “It’s a tough situation going on in Cleveland,” the former Cavaliers star commented. “I wish those guys the best. As much as I would love for them to get back on track, I don’t want them to get back on track against us.” He comes into this contest leading the team in assists and steals, while guard Dwyane Wade has scored 30 points or more in three straight games. Miami is 12-13 ATS on the season and 6-0 ATS after allowing 85 points or less.

The Heat enter off an impressive defensive showing in picking up a 96-84 home win over the New Orleans Hornets on Monday. Miami will have plenty of NBA experts pointing out that the league has had only three teams that have won 10 consecutive games by at least 10 points apiece, something that this club can easily obtain against Cleveland. “We’re starting to figure out how this team is going to play all year,” said Wade. The team has also been dominant on the boards, enjoying a 233-180 rebounding edge over the last five games.

Bettors will be interested in the Cavaliers 5-2 ATS mark as a road underdog of 11 or more points, while the Heat are 2-5 ATS as a home favorite of 11 points or more.