It’s Thursday, December 12, and the Toronto Raptors (7-18) and Miami Heat (12-10) are all set to square off from Kaseya Center in Miami. The Raptors are currently 3-13 with a point differential on the road of -5, while the Heat have a 5 -5 record in their last ten games at home.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts. Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.
Game details & how to watch Raptors vs. Heat today
Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
Game odds for Raptors vs. Heat
The latest odds as of Thursday:
That gives the Raptors an implied team point total of 110.25, and the Heat 115.73.
Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from Draftkings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!
Expert picks & predictions for Thursday Raptors vs. Heat game
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
NBC Sports Best Bet
Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas) likes RJ Barrett to compile stats tonight: RJ Barrett 20+ points & 6+ Rebs (-123)
“Scottie Barnes is set to miss at least a week due to injury. That’s 21 points, 8 rebounds, and seven assists per game that Barnes brings to the table. While it’s impossible to replace all of that production, hence the 10-point spread in favor of the Heat, there will be more of the volume to go around. The first and likely the most important recipient of that volume is RJ Barrett. This season, Barrett is averaging 24 and 7; even without Barnes in his Raptors career, the numbers are comparable. The Heat are a good match up when it comes to boards and points. Butler is questionable, but if he misses, it’s a huge bump in potential offensive production to Barrett.”
Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) is also expecting Barrett to have a good night: RJ Barrett Over 12.5 Rebounds + Assists
“Barrett has hit Over 12.5 Rebounds + Assists in three straight without Scottie Barnes and recorded at least 12 R+A in six of the last seven games.”
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals. Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Raptors & Heat game:
-
Moneyline: NBC Sports is staying away from a play on the Moneyline
-
Spread: NBC Sports is leaning towards a play on the Heat laying 10 points.
-
Total: NBC Sports is staying away from a play on the Total of 224.5 points.
Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!
Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Raptors vs. Heat on Thursday
-
The Heat have won 3 straight home games against the Raptors
-
The Under is 7-3 in the Raptors’ last 10 games
-
The Raptors are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as an underdog
-
In the Raptors’ road games this season the Under is 8-4
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Bet the Edge is your source for all things sports betting. Get all of Jay Croucher and Drew Dinsick’s insight weekdays at 6AM ET right here or wherever you get your favorite podcasts.
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
– Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
– Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
– Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
– Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
