Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat will go on the road to play LaMelo Ball and the Hornets tonight in group play for the NBA In-Season Tournament. Miami is on a five-game winning streak after defeating the Spurs 118-113 over the weekend. The Heat are also 1-0 in group play, with their first win coming against the Wizards on Nov. 3.
The Hornets have dropped three out of their last four games, including a 22-point road loss to the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. However, Charlotte is 1-0 in group play after they took down the Wizards last week.
Here are the odds and our best bet for Miami-Charlotte:
If you plan on betting on this game, I suggest doing it at Caesars Sportsbook, who is matching all new users first bets up to $1,000!
Heat vs. Hornets odds, spread and total
Heat vs. Hornets how to watch
- Date: Tuesday, Nov. 14
- Game Time: 7:00 p.m. EST
- Venue: Spectrum Center
- How to Watch (TV): NBA League Pass
- Heat Record: 6-4
- Hornets Record: 3-6
Heat vs. Hornets injury reports
Miami Heat injury report
- Tyler Herro (out, ankle)
- Kevin Love (available, shoulder)
- Caleb Martin (out, knee)
- Josh Richardson (probable, back)
- Dru Smith (available, shoulder)
Charlotte Hornets injury report
- James Bouknight (out, knee)
- Miles Bridges (out, league suspension)
- Gordon Hayward (probable, hamstring)
- Cody Martin (out, knee)
- Brandon Miller (probable, ankle)
- Frank Ntilikina (out, leg)
- Terry Rozier (out, groin)
Heat vs. Hornets key players to watch
Miami Heat
Jimmy Butler: With Herro sidelined for the foreseeable future, the Heat must lean on the Butler and Bam Adebayo duo to shoulder the offensive load. Butler is averaging 18.5 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game this season. The 34-year-old star didn't shoot the ball well against the Spurs (5-14 FG, 1-3 3pt), but he stuffed the stat sheet with 19 points, six rebounds, and four assists.
Jaime Jaquez: The rookie has scored in double figures in three straight games and is carving out a role off the bench. The former UCLA star did a little bit of everything on the floor against the Spurs, recording 11 points, six rebounds, three assists, and three steals. He fits the Heat culture mantra and could see more time with Herro out with the ankle sprain.
Charlotte Hornets
LaMelo Ball: Ball has been on a tear to start this month, scoring 25.2 points per game on 50% shooting from the field and 41.7% from three-point range. This was a noticeable improvement from what he did in October, where Ball only had 14.3 points per game on 25% shooting from the field and 25% from beyond the arc. Over his last four games, Ball is averaging 30.3 points, 8.0 assists, and 6.8 rebounds per game.
Mark Williams: The second-year center has a tough matchup tonight, set to mark Bam Adebayo. However, Hornets fans shouldn’t worry as Williams looks to be the Hornets’ center of present and future. This season, the 21-year-old is averaging 14.8 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. In Charlotte’s first group play game against Wizards, he had 21 points and 24 rebounds.
Heat vs. Hornets prediction and pick
Miami has been on a roll, winning their last five games by 5.4 points per game. The Heat have done a tremendous job defensively, holding opponents to 109 points a game. Miami is one of the better defensive teams in the NBA this season (111.1 DRtg), which should help them in this matchup against the Hornets. The Hornets love to push the pace (102 – fourth in the NBA), but they give up a lot of points as well (123.1 ppg allowed).
The Heat are 4-2 against the spread on the road this season, while the Hornets are 1-3 ATS at home. Charlotte’s lone home win was against the Hawks on opening night, but they lost their next three by double-digits. I’ll take the better defensive team in Miami to cover the spread.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.