NBA Picks: Miami Heat vs. New York Knicks

Miami Heat vs. New York Knicks
Thursday, 1/9/14, 8:00 PM EST
Opening Point Spread: Miami -7
Current Betting Line: Miami -7.5
Opening Total: 197
Current Total: 197
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

New York Knicks F Carmelo Anthony was sensational against the Miami Heat last season

Miami has won three games in a row, including a 107-88 victory over the New Orleans Hornets as 8.5-point home favorites Tuesday, while going UNDER the betting total in two consecutive contests. The Heat are 11-5 SU on the road this season, including a 7-4 mark versus Eastern Conference opponents, which is important to consider when making your NBA betting picks. Offensively, the team is led by forward LeBron James, who’s averaging 25.5 points per game. Miami is 20-3 SU and 16-7 ATS as road favorites of 6.5 to 9 points the last two-plus seasons.

The Heat dropped three of four meetings against the Knicks last season, which can’t be ignored when looking over the NBA betting lines. Miami is averaging 104.9 points per game on 51.1 percent shooting, while it holds opponents to 97.9 points a contest. It’s important to point out that starters Mario Chalmers (Achilles) and Shane Battier (quad) remain day-to-day after both sat out the team’s previous affair.

New York is 3-1 SU and 4-0 ATS over its last four games, as it comes off an 89-85 victory over the Detroit Pistons as three-point home favorites Tuesday, while going UNDER the betting total for a third consecutive contest. The Knicks have three probable starters averaging in double figures, with forward Carmelo Anthony leading the way at 26.3 points a contest. He has averaged 38.5 points in his last four regular-season meetings in this series. New York is 5-12 SU and 4-13 ATS at home this season, with the OVER going 10-7 in that situation.

The Knicks are hoping that guard Iman Shumpert can continue his strong play on the offensive end, as he’s averaged 20.7 points on 68.8 percent shooting from the field over his last three games. New York also needs front court players Tyson Chandler and Kenyon Martin to become available—with both dealing with an illness that has worked its way through the team’s locker room.