Two teams sitting right outside the top-8 places of their respective conferences are clashing today, when the Miami Heat (6-9), who have won only once in their last five games, are hosting the Los Angeles Lakers (8-7), who saw a lengthy winning streak end and are looking to bounce back.

Date/Time: 11-18-2018, 18:00 EDT

Spread: Miami Heat -2

Total: +227.5

Miami Heat have a 6-9 record (6-9 against the spread) so far this season and are currently tied with the Nets in the 9th place of the East. They have lost four of their last five matches and in their last game they lost on the road against the Pacers with a 91-99 score, not beating the odds. They are led in scoring by Josh Richardson with 20.6 ppg, adding 3.9 boards and 3.3 dimes per game. He is followed by Goran Dragic with 16.3 ppg, 3.3 boards and a team high 4.7 dimes per game.

Los Angeles Lakers have an 8-7 record (5-10 against the spread) so far this season and are currently tied with the Rockets in the 8th place of the West. In their last game they saw a four-game winning streak getting snapped by losing on the road against the Magic with a 117-130 score, not beating the odds. They are led in scoring by LeBron James with 27.3 ppg, adding team highs both in dimes made with 7.2 and in boards with 7.7 per game. He is followed by Kyle Kuzma with 17 ppg and 5 boards per game.

In their two meetings last season each team won once on the road (Heat by one point and Lakers by 18). Heat have a 3-5 home record this season, while the Lakers are 3-4 on the road. Lakers are better offensively, scoring 116.9 ppg to Heat’s 110.1, while Heat are better defensively, allowing 110.5 to Lakers’ 116.6 ppg. Lakers have a better field goal percentage (48.1% to 44.3%), while Heat have a better 3-point percentage (36.9% to 35.8%). Heat are better in boards grabbed (47.6 to 45.8), while Lakers are better both in dimes made (25.7 to 22.6) and in turnovers committed (15.4 to 16.1). Lakers are playing their second game in two days and Vegas odds give the Heat a -2 spread and expect them to beat the odds for the home win.

Los Angeles Lakers vs Miami Heat Prediction: Miami Heat -2 (-108)

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