Phoenix Suns vs Miami Heat NBA Handicapping Picks

Phoenix Suns at Miami Heat
Wednesday, 11/17/10, 7:00 PM EDT, TV: ESPN
Opening Point Spread: Miami -9
Current Betting Line: Miami -8
Opening Total: 208
Current Total: 209
Current Moneyline: Miami -370 / Phoenix +310

Miami Heat G Dwyane Wade has led the team in scoring in five of the last six games, as his team is favored by eight points tonight over the visiting Suns

Phoenix Suns head east and start a four-game road trip in Miami to tackle the Heat after picking up a 100-94 win over the Denver Nuggets. “I think guys are starting to get comfortable playing with each other and it’s shown in the last couple of games we’ve played,” said guard Jason Richardson. The Suns have played much better of late, winning four of their last five games after suffering through a slow start to their season. The team is two games above .500 for the first time during the 2010-11 season and enter tonight’s game on a season-high three-game winning streak. Phoenix enters tonight’s play 3-0 on the first night of a back-to-back and 1-2 on the second night, as they will play in Miami tonight and Orlando on Thursday. Phoenix is 5-5 ATS on the season and the NBA lines page has them as an eight-point underdog.

The Suns have won three of their last four games and the two clubs split the season series in 2009 (1-1) with each winning on the other’s home court. Phoenix has won four of the last five in Miami, while the Heat own a three-game win streak in Phoenix. A major strength for this team has been its bench play, a unit that currently ranks third in the NBA in scoring (39.3) behind only the Philadelphia 76ers (43.4) and Cleveland Cavaliers (42.8). The reserves are nearly doubling the output of their opponents this season by a 39.3 to 22.2 margin. Point guard Steve Nash has also upped his play over the last six games, averaging 11.5 assists over that stretch after starting the season dishing out just 6.8 per contest.

Miami enters tonight’s contest on three days rest and a 6-4 overall record with many starting to wonder if this power trio was a good idea. “All of us understand how this team is being perceived,” said head coach Eric Spoelstra. “I’d be totally naive if I didn’t know what was going on out there.” The Heat defense has fallen back after its impressive start to the season, allowing an average of 109.3 points while losing two of three. “We just have to keep on continuing to grind games defensively and build those good habits,” the head man reiterated. The team is still holding opponents to just 93.3 points per game, while averaging 102.7 points a contest offensively. Miami is 4-6 ATS on the season and 0-2 ATS as a home favorite of 6.5 to 9 points.

The Heat have been led offensively by guard Dwyane Wade leading the team in scoring in five of the last six games, while forward LeBron James has recorded three consecutive double-doubles. “I’d be a fool to say it’s hard to play with LeBron,” said Wade. “It’s not complicated. It’s been a treat, it’s been joyous.” He ended up scoring 31 points and James pitched in with 23 in the squad’s 109-100 victory over the Raptors. Miami has been at its best coming out of the break, outscoring opponents by a 273-196 margin in the third quarter this season.