NBA Predictions: Houston Rockets vs. Miami Heat

Houston Rockets vs. Miami Heat
Sunday, 3/16/14, 3:30 PM EST
Opening Point Spread: Miami -4
Current Betting Line: Miami -5.5
Opening Total: 209
Current Total: 208.5
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

The Miami Heat have been great at home under head coach Erik Spoelstra

Houston has dropped back-to-back games, including a 111-87 setback to the Chicago Bulls as 3.5-point road favorites last Thursday, while going OVER the betting total of 193.5. The Rockets have four of five probable starters averaging in double figures, with shooting guard James Harden leading the way at 24.6 points a contest, which can’t be ignored when making your NBA predictions. The team is 18-14 SU on the road, including a 6-4 mark versus Eastern Conference opponents. Houston is 1-5 SUATS as road underdogs of 3.5 to 6 points this season.

The Rockets and Los Angeles Clippers are the only two teams in the league that haven’t had a three-game losing streak, which is important to consider when looking over the NBA betting lines. At 20-4 versus the East, Houston holds the league’s best mark outside of its own conference. The team has also won 23 of its 31 games since the calendar turned to 2014—not losing a contest when scoring 100 or more points over that span.

Miami has dropped five of its last six games, including a 111-107 decision to the Denver Nuggets as 11-point home favorites last Friday, while going OVER the betting total for the first time in five contests. The Heat are 17-7 SU versus non-conference foes during the 2013-14 campaign, including an 8-3 mark when playing inside the AmericanAirlines Arena. It’s important to point out that the franchise has compiled a dominating 172-56 SU record at home under head coach Erik Spoelstra. Miami is 10-3 SU and 7-5-1 ATS when revenging a loss versus an opponent this season.

The Heat are 33-4 SU this season when holding opponents to under 100 points, while they’ve already clinched a playoff spot. Miami continues to be led by forward LeBron James on both ends of the floor, as he enters averaging 26.8 points, 6.9 rebounds and 6.5 assists.