Heat vs Lakers Prediction, Odds & Best Bets | NBA on ESPN (1/3): Don’t Expect a Shootout

Today’s Heat vs Lakers prediction is brought to you by BetOnline. BetOnline is a market leader in sports betting, offering various options from the NBA to the UFC and everything in between.

Wednesday, Jan. 3 is a busy night around the NBA with 12 massive matchups on the schedule. One of tonight’s national broadcasts takes place on ESPN when the Miami Heat (19-14) collide with the Los Angeles Lakers (17-17) at 10 p.m. ET.

Lakers next 5 opponents. All at home.

Heat (19-13)
Grizzlies (10-22)
Clippers (19-12)
Raptors (12-20)
Suns (17-15)

How many they winning? pic.twitter.com/Q0mglnymA6

— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) January 1, 2024

It’s no secret that both teams could use a victory at crypto.com Arena tonight. The Heat are in danger of losing their third straight game after falling 121-104 to the LA Clippers on New Year’s Day. Meanwhile, the Lakers lost for the seventh time in their last nine games as they suffered a 129-109 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Dec. 31.

So, which of these teams will put an end to their losing ways before they worsen?

Let’s dive into my Heat vs Lakers prediction and best bets to find out.

Heat vs Lakers NBA on ESPN Tonight (Jan. 3)

Heat vs Lakers Matchup Information

• Matchup: Miami Heat (19-14, 10-8 Away) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (17-17, 11-4 Home)
• Venue & Location: crypto.com Arena (Los Angeles, CA)
• Date: Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2023
• Game Time: 10 p.m. Eastern Time
• Heat vs. Lakers TV Channel Info: ESPN

Heat vs Lakers Odds & Spread

Heat vs. Lakers odds are courtesy of BetOnline as of Wednesday, Jan. 3 at 8:59 a.m. ET. Odds from other top online sportsbooks may also be mentioned in this article.

Heat vs Lakers Spread

• Miami Heat +6 (-110)
• Los Angeles Lakers -6 (-110)

Heat vs Lakers Over/Under

• Over 228.5 Points (-110)
• Under 228.5 Points (-110)

Heat vs Lakers Moneyline

• Miami Heat (+185)
• Los Angeles Lakers (-215)

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Heat vs Lakers Betting Trends

• Miami is 5-2 straight up in its last seven games vs. the Lakers.
• The Lakers are 12-5 straight up in their last 17 home games on a Wednesday.
• Miami is 2-5 ATS in its last seven games played in January.
• The Lakers are 4-2 ATS in their last six games vs. Miami.
• The total hit the Under in six of Miami’s last eight road games.
• The total hit the Under in nine of the Lakers’ last 11 home games.

Heat vs Lakers Prediction & Pick (Jan. 3)

The first thing that most bettors will notice about this game is both teams’ injury situations.

The Heat have already confirmed that Jimmy Butler (foot) and Haywood Highsmith (concussion) have both been ruled out of Wednesday’s contest. Obviously, Butler is the bigger loss of the two as the 24-year-old veteran has been averaging 21.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.5 assists this season.

Additionally, Josh Richardson (back) is expected to be a game-time decision while Caleb Martin (ankle) is listed as doubtful.

Nevertheless, it isn’t as if the Lakers are in much better shape. On top of Gabe Vincent (knee) and Rui Hachimura (calf) already being out, LeBron James (illness) and Cam Reddish (groin) are questionable, D’Angelo Russell (tailbone) is doubtful, and Anthony Davis (ankle) is probable.

#MIAvsLAL INJURY UPDATE: Jimmy Butler (foot) has been ruled out of tomorrow night's game vs the Lakers.

Caleb Martin (ankle) is listed as doubtful.

Josh Richardson (facet syndrome) is listed as questionable.

— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) January 3, 2024

Regardless of the injury situation, it’s hard to like how the Lakers have been playing on defense lately. Over the last seven games, opponents are averaging 119.6 PPG while shooting 50.1% from the floor and 40.2% from three-point range against Los Angeles. It doesn’t help that the Lakers are also averaging 12.1 turnovers during that span while being outrebounded by about four boards per night.

At the same time, the Heat aren’t exactly an offensive juggernaut. While they average the 13th-most threes made on the second-best accuracy, they rank seventh-worst when it comes to both PPG and field-goal percentage on the road.

And while Miami has won five of its last seven overall meetings with Los Angeles, those two losses came at crypto.com Arena where the Heat are 2-6 SU in their last eight visits. In fact, the Lakers won their last two home games against the Heat, having not lost in their own backyard since Feb. 20, 2021.

As bad as they’ve been lately, I’m taking the Lakers to overcome the Heat. If the home team can tighten up its defense, the results will come. It’s also best to steer clear of the Heat whenever Butler is out seeing as they’re 13-14 SU in the last 27 games that he’s missed.

But with neither side at full health, backing the Under on the 228.5-point total is the best bet. The Under is a regular occurrence for these teams as it’s 7-11 for Miami on the road while also being 5-11 at crypto.com Arena this season. That’s without mentioning how 10 of the last 11 Heat-Lakers matchups finished with fewer than 228.5 points.

If history is anything to go by, expect a low-scoring affair in Los Angeles.

Heat vs Lakers Prediction: LAL wins

Best Heat vs Lakers Bet: u228.5 Total Points (-110)

Get 50% up to $1,000 on this pick over on BetOnline

Best Heat vs Lakers NBA Player Prop (Jan. 3)

Heat vs. Lakers player props are currently unavailable on BetOnline, which is why we’re moving to Bovada to take Tyler Herro to hit over 3.5 three-pointers.

Herro has taken his perimeter game to the next level in his fifth NBA season, averaging a career-high 3.3 threes on 42.4% shooting. The Miami sharpshooter has finished with at least four threes in 53.3% of his games thus far, which includes making good on this prop four times in his last six appearances.

Considering how the Lakers’ perimeter defense has been lacking lately and that they also allow the 11th-most threes to shooting guards, it’s easy to like this Herro-based prop tonight.

Best Heat vs Lakers Prop Bet: Tyler Herro o3.5 Threes Made (+110)

Get 50% up to $750 on this pick over on Bovada

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