NBA odds say take Miami Heat to win, cover at Brooklyn

The Miami Heat roll into Friday off a big win at Indiana and facing a beat-up Brooklyn Nets team that has lost 7 straight. Miami is your NBA odds pick.

It was a little more than a month ago that the Miami Heat last visited the Brooklyn Nets and the result was a stunner. The Heat are back at Barclays Center Friday night as three-point favorites and look like the best NBA odds play on a 10-game schedule.

In their Dec. 1 matchup, Miami scored the final 10 points of the game over the last 1:45 to pull out a 109-106 victory, though they did not cover the 4½-point spread. On Friday, even though the Nets are in the midst of a seven-game losing streak and are still without Kyrie Irving, the Heat are just a 3½-point favorite according to information provided courtesy of The Action Network.

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Those are odds to jump on.

During its losing streak, Brooklyn has not covered once, going 0-7 against the spread, and they are just 2-4 ATS in their last six games at Barclays Center. Miami isn’t the covering machine it is at home, but the Heat are a respectable 9-9-1 ATS on the road, splitting their last four decisions 2-2 ATS.

The Nets haven’t won a game (or covered in one) since before Christmas, dating back to a 10-point victory as 7½-point favorites at Atlanta on Dec. 21 and Brooklyn may not have Garrett Temple or Wilson Chandler on Friday. Both are questionable.

Miami is as healthy as its been in awhile, with Justise Winslow back after missing 15 games with a bruiised lower back. He played in the Heat’s win at Indiana on Wednesday, logging 16 minutes while going scoreless, with two rebounds, an assist, a steal and a block. Derrick Jones Jr. is questionable with a bruised thigh, but otherwise Miami is at full strength.

Miami Heat at Brooklyn Nets

TV: Fox Sports Sun (Heat), YES (Nets)
Tickets: Barclays Center, 7:30 p.m. local (7:30 p.m. Eastern)
Records: Miami 27-10 (22-14-1 ATS, 9-9-1 road ATS), Brooklyn 16-20 (16-20 ATS, 9-8 home ATS)

Availability report (as of 8:30 p.m. on Thursday)
Miami: OUT–KZ Okpala (G League), Gabe Vincent (two-way, G League); QUESTIONABLE–Derrick Jones Jr. (left inner thigh bruise).
Brooklyn: OUT–Chris Chiozza (two-way, G League), Kevin Durant (right Achilles rehab), Kyrie Irving (right shoulder impingement); QUESTIONABLE–Wilson Chandler (left hamstring tightness), Garrett Temple (right knee contusion).

The rest of a busy Friday night schedule in the NBA looks like this:

Atlanta Hawks at Washington Wizards

TV: Fox Sports Southeast-Atlanta (Hawks), NBC Sports Washington (Wizards)
Tickets: Capital One Arena, 7 p.m. local (7 p.m. Eastern)
Records: Atlanta 8-30 (17-21 ATS, 7-13 road ATS), Washington 12-25 (18-18-1 ATS, 8-9 home ATS)

Availability report
Atlanta: OUT–Bruno Fernando (personal), Jabari Parker (right shoulder impingement).
Washington: OUT–Thomas Bryant (stress reaction, right foot), Rui Hachimura (groin), Garrison Mathews (sprained right ankle), C.J. Miles (left wrist surgery), Moritz Wagner (sprained left ankle), John Wall (left Achilles rehab).

Notable: The Atlanta Hawks have been a good bet lately, going 4-1 ATS in their last five games despite winning just two of them outright. The Washington Wizards, on the other hand, have been almost impossible to figure out, with wins over Miami, Denver and Boston in the last couple of weeks to go with blowout losses to Orlando (twice) and Portland.

These Southeast Division rivals will play four times between now and the end of the regular season, having last met last February. Washington is 3-3 ATS in its last six games at home and is getting a bit healthier, with sharpshooter Davis Bertans off the injury report after missing the last nine games with a strained quad.

New Orleans Pelicans at New York Knicks

TV: Fox Sports New Orleans (Pelicans), ESPN (national)
Tickets: Madison Square Garden, 7:15 p.m. local (7:15 p.m. Eastern)
Records: New Orleans 13-25 (17-18-2 ATS, 7-9-2 road ATS), New York 10-28 (19-19 ATS, 8-9 home ATS)

Avalability report
New Orleans: OUT–Zylan Cheatham (two-way, G League), Josh Gray (two-way, G League), Jrue Holiday (left elbow tricep strain), Darius Miller (right Achilles surgery), Kenrich Williams (right lower back soreness), Zion Williamson (right knee scope).
New York: OUT–Ignas Brazdeikis (G League), Ivan Rabb (two-way, G League), Julius Randle (personal); QUESTIONABLE–Marcus Morris (sore neck), Dennis Smith Jr. (left oblique strain); PROBABLE–Mitchell Robinson (left greater toe sprain).

Notable: This matchup may be more defined by who isn’t on the floor than by who is. The New Orleans Pelicans will play a second straight game without backcourt star Jrue Holiday, while the New York Knicks won’t have Julius Randle, their second-leading scorer, while leading scorer Marcus Morris is questionable with neck pain.

The Pelicans have been rolling, however, going 7-0-1 ATS in their last eight games and are 4-1-1 ATS in their last six on the road. The Knicks are just 1-2 ATS in their last three at home. These teams last played in November 2018, so the past doesn’t tell us much considering how different both teams are from 14 months ago.

Indiana Pacers at Chicago Bulls

TV: Fox Sports Indiana (Pacers), NBC Sports Chicago (Bulls)
Tickets: United Center, 7 p.m. local (8 p.m. Eastern)
Records: Indiana 23-15 (19-16-3 ATS, 9-9 road ATS), Chicago 13-25 (18-19-1 ATS, 9-11 home ATS)

Availability report
Indiana: OUT–Naz Mitrou-Long (right ankle sprain), Victor Oladipo (right knee rehab); QUESTIONABLE–Malcolm Brogdon (sore lower back), Domantas Sabonis (sore left knee).
Chicago: OUT–Wendell Carter Jr. (right ankle sprain), Adam Mokoka (two-way, G League), Otto Porter (left foot fracture), Max Strus (left knee ACL surgery); PROBABLE–Ryan Arcidiacono (right elbow discomfort), Lauri Markkanen (left ankle sprain).

Notable: The Indiana Pacers have struggled to cover in their last nine games, going just 3-6 ATS, but the Chicago Bulls are 0-4-1 ATS in their last five games — all of them straight-up losses. Two of the Pacers’ three covers have come on the road, where they are 2-3 ATS in their last five. Chicago is 1-3 ATS in its last four at home and are only 9-11 ATS at United Center on the year.

The Bulls will be without big man Wendell Carter Jr. for four to six weeks with a high ankle sprain, so their interior defense could take a hit with rookie Daniel Gafford — athletic, but raw — likely being called upon to step up from his normal 12.1 minutes per game. Indiana may not have Malcolm Brogdon or Domantas Sabonis — both questionable — and that could be very bad.

San Antonio Spurs at Memphis Grizzlies

TV: Fox Sports Southwest-San Antonio (Spurs), Fox Sports Southeast-Memphis (Grizzlies)
Tickets: FedExForum, 7 p.m. local (8 p.m. Eastern)
Records: San Antonio 16-20 (14-21-1 ATS, 8-7-1 road ATS), Memphis 16-22 (19-18-1 ATS, 10-10 home ATS)

Availability report
San Antonio: OUT–Keldon Johnson (G League), Chimezie Metu (G League), Luka Samanic (G League), Quinndary Weatherspoon (two-way, G League).
Memphis: OUT–Andre Iguodala (not with team), Josh Jackson (G League), John Konchar (two-way, G League), Yuta Watanabe (two-way, G League).

Notable: The San Antonio Spurs have been much better of late, going 6-2 ATS in their last eight games and have covered their last five road games to get their road ATS mark above break-even at 8-7-1. The Memphis Grizzlies have also been going well, with a 4-1 ATS mark in their last five — all four straight-up wins — and are 3-1 ATS in their last four games at FedEx Forum.

The teams have split their first two meetings, swapping road wins. The Grizzlies took a 113-109 win at San Antonio on Nov. 11 as 10½-point underdogs before the Spurs went to Memphis and hammered the hosts 145-115 as one-point favorites on Dec. 23. San Antonio has won five of the last six straight up against the Grizzlies, but are 2-5 ATS in the last seven head-to-head games.

Orlando Magic at Phoenix Suns

TV: Fox Sports Florida (Magic), Fox Sports Arizona (Suns)
Tickets: Talking Stick Resort Arena, 7 p.m. local (9 p.m. Eastern)
Records: Orlando 18-20 (17-19-2 ATS, 8-8-1 road ATS), Phoenix 14-23 (20-16-1 ATS, 10-10-1 home ATS)

Availability report
Orlando: OUT–Al-Farouq Aminu (right knee, torn meniscus), Michael Carter-Williams (left shoulder, AC joint sprain), Melvin Frazier (G League), Jonathan Isaac (left knee posterior lateral corner injury/medial bone contusion); QUESTIONABLE–Aaron Gordon (right calf tightness); DOUBTFUL–D.J. Augustin (left knee contusion).
Phoenix: OUT–Jared Harper (G League), Frank Kaminsky (stress fracture, right patella).

Notable: The Orlando Magic have won four of their last five, going 4-1 ATS in that stretch, going 3-1 since losing young forward Jonathan Isaac to a severe knee sprain. Their four wins in that span are by an average of 21.8 points, with one of them a 20-point bombing of the visiting Heat on Jan. 3.

The Phoenix Suns are 4-2 ATS in their last six games, but have failed to cover the last five times they’ve hosted the Magic. Orlando won the first of the two meetings between the teams, taking a 128-114 decision at home as 1½-point underdogs on Dec. 4. The Magic may not have Aaron Gordon Friday night, as he’s nursing a sore calf, while D.J. Augustin has a bruised knee.

Charlotte Hornets at Utah Jazz

TV: Fox Sports Southeast-Charlotte (Hornets), AT&T SportsNet-Rocky Mountain (Jazz)
Tickets: Vivint Smart Home Arena, 7 p.m. local (9 p.m. Eastern)
Records: Charlotte 15-25 (19-20-1 ATS, 10-9-1 road ATS), Utah 25-12 (19-18 ATS, 9-8 home ATS)

Availability report
Charlotte: OUT–Robert Franks (two-way, G League), Caleb Martin (G League), Jalen McDaniels (G League), Kobi Simmons (two-way, G League); QUESTIONABLE–Marvin Williams (nasal fracture).
Utah: OUT–Mike Conley (left hamstring strain), Miye Oni (G League), Justin Wright-Foreman (two-way, G League).

Notable: The Charlotte Hornets haven’t won at game at Salt Lake City for a bit … as in March 1, 2006, losing their last 12 trips straight up (the teams did not play at Utah in the lockout-shortened 2011-12 season). Even as the Hornets have won just two of their last 10 straight up, though, they are 4-5-1 ATS and 3-2 ATS in their last five road games.

But the Utah Jazz are rolling, winning seven in a row straight up and going 7-1 ATS in their last eight. The Jazz covered the first time these teams played, taking a 114-107 win as 6½-point road favorites on Dec. 21. Utah is 7-0 since acquiring backup guard Jordan Clarkson. More interestingly, the Jazz are 12-3 in the 15 games Mike Conley has missed with a hamstring strain.

Los Angeles Lakers at Dallas Mavericks

TV: Spectrum SportsNet (Lakers), ESPN (national)
Tickets: American Airlines Center, 8:45 p.m. local (9:45 p.m. Eastern)
Records: Los Angeles 30-7 (19-16-1 ATS, 9-8 road ATS), Dallas 23-14 (19-17-1 ATS, 7-12-1 home ATS)

Availability report
Los Angeles: OUT–Devontae Cacok (two-way, G League), DeMarcus Cousins (right knee rehabilitation), Talen Horton-Tucker (G League); QUESTIONABLE–Avery Bradley (flu-like symptoms), Anthony Davis (gluteus maximus contusion); PROBABLE–LeBron James (flu-like symptoms).
Dallas: OUT–Ryan Broekhoff (left fibula fracture), Kristaps Porzingis (right knee soreness), Isaiah Roby (G League); QUESTIONABLE–J.J. Barea (illness).

Notable: This matchup could be less than originally advertised, with Anthony Davis questionable for the Los Angeles Lakers with a bruised backside after a hard fall against the Knicks on Tuesday, while the Dallas Mavericks will have no Kristaps Porzingis for a sixth straight game due to soreness in his right knee (not the one he had operated on in early 2018).

The Lakers have been a tough pick lately, going 3-8-1 ATS in their last 12 games, but Dallas is 2-6-1 ATS in its last nine games and is just 1-3-1 ATS in its last five games at home. Los Angeles is up 2-1 in the season series, with a 119-110 road win at minus-1 on Nov. 1 and a 108-95 victory at home at minus-5 on Dec. 29. The Mavericks got a win in LA, 114-100 on Dec. 1, at plus-6½.

Milwaukee Bucks at Sacramento Kings

TV: Fox Sports Wisconsin (Bucks), NBC Sports California (Kings)
Tickets: Golden 1 Center, 7 p.m. local (10 p.m. Eastern)
Records: Milwaukee 33-6 (21-18 ATS, 10-9 road ATS), Sacramento 15-23 (20-18 ATS, 7-11 home ATS)

Availability report
Milwaukee: OUT–Frank Mason (two-way, G League), Cameron Reynolds (two-way, G League); QUESTIONABLE–Ersan Ilyasova (right knee soreness); PROBABLE–Giannis Antetokounmpo (back soreness).
Sacramento: OUT–Bogdan Bogdanovic (right ankle soreness), Kyle Guy (two-way, G League), Richaun Holmes (right shoulder strain), DaQuan Jeffries (two-way, G League); QUESTIONABLE–Marvin Bagley III (left foot sprain).

Notable: The Sacramento Kings could be severely limited up front, with Richaun Holmes out with a strained shoulder and Marvin Bagley III questionable as he recovers from a sprained foot. Throw in Bogdan Bogdanovic being out with a sore ankle and it looks bleak against the Milwaukee Bucks, sporting the NBA’s best record. But the Bucks are just 1-4 ATS in their last five games.

Sacramento has gone 5-10 ATS over its last 15 games and is just 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games at Golden 1 Center. This is the first meeting this season between these two clubs, as Milwaukee has won each of the last three games straight up, but the Kings have covered in two of them. Giannis Antetokounmpo against a short-handed frontcourt seems like a serious problem.

Golden State Warriors at LA Clippers

TV: NBC Sports Bay Area (Warriors), Fox Sports Prime Ticket (Clippers)
Tickets: Staples Center, 7:30 p.m. local (10:30 p.m. Eastern)
Records: Golden State 9-30 (18-20-1 ATS, 9-11 road ATS), LA 26-12 (20-17 ATS, 11-8 home ATS)

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Availability report
Golden State: OUT–Ky Bowman (two-way, G League), Stephen Curry (left hand fracture), Kevon Looney (left abdominal soreness), Klay Thompson (left ACL rehabilitation); QUESTIONABLE–D’Angelo Russell (right shoulder contusion).
LA: OUT–Amir Coffey (two-way, G League), Paul George (left hamstring strain), Mfiondu Kabengele (G League), Terance Mann (G League), Johnathan Motley (two-way, G League).

Notable: The Golden State Warriors have followed four consecutive wins with six straight losses and are 2-4 ATS during the losing skid. The Warriors have already taken one pounding from the LA Clippers, losing at home 141-122 on Oct. 24. Throw out the history — Golden State winning 11 of the last 12 meetings with the Clippers might as well have happened in an alternate reality.

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The Warriors may get D’Angelo Russell back from his bruised shoulder, while LA will be without Paul George for the second straight game with a hamstring injury. The Clippers have covered just twice in their last six games at home and the Warriors have actually been a sneaky good pick evn at 9-30, going 18-20-1 ATS, not much off LA’s 20-17 ATS mark.