NBA Picks: Miami Heat vs. Sacramento Kings

Miami Heat vs. Sacramento Kings
Friday, 12/27/13, 10:00 PM EST
Opening Point Spread: Miami -8
Current Betting Line: Miami -7.5
Opening Total: 209
Current Total: 209
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

The Sacramento Kings have scored 100 or more points in 10 of their last 11 games

Miami has won six games in a row, including a 101-95 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers as 9.5-point road favorites on Christmas Day, while going UNDER the betting total for the first time in six contests. The Heat have three players averaging in double figures, with forward LeBron James leading the way at 25.2 points per game, which is important to consider when making your NBA betting picks. He has scored in double-figures in 523 consecutive games. Miami is 3-0 SUATS as road favorites of 6.5 to 9 points this season, with the UNDER going 2-1 in that situation.

The Heat are 8-4 SU on the road this season, including a 2-0 mark versus Western Conference opponents, which can’t be ignored when looking over the NBA betting lines. Miami is 34-16 SU all-time against Sacramento, including a 122-103 victory as 10-point home favorites a week ago, while going OVER for the fifth consecutive matchup in the series. The franchise has won 19 consecutive out-of-conference games, which is the longest such winning streak in its history.

Sacramento has dropped four of its last five games, including a 113-100 setback to the New Orleans Hornets as one-point home favorites Monday, while going OVER the betting total for a fourth consecutive affair. The Kings are 5-11 SU at Sleep Train Arena this season, including a 1-2 mark versus Eastern Conference foes. Forward DeMarcus Cousins is leading the team in averaging 22.5 points and 10.8 rebounds per game, while new addition Rudy Gay has scored 20 or more points in four of seven contests since being acquired from the Toronto Raptors. Sacramento is 4-7 SU and 7-4 ATS as home underdogs of 6.5 to 9 points the last two-plus seasons, with the OVER going 8-3 in that situation.

The Kings have scored 100 or more points in 10 of their last 11 games—averaging 103.6 points over that span. Sacramento has been getting great production out of first-year player Ben McLemore, who was named the Western Conference’s Rookie of the Month for November, as he averaged 9.1 points in 22.8 minutes of action.