The New York Knicks will be looking for their second straight ATS win over the Miami Heat when those top Eastern Conference clubs hit the hardwood down in Florida on Thursday night.
The Knicks beat the Heat 104-84 as a 6-point underdog at the sportsbooks at home back on November 2, and they're now 2-0-1 ATS over their past three games against Miami. The UNDER has paid out in three of the past four Knicks/Heat matchups for totals bettors.
But the Heat has won 5 straight at home against the Knicks and NBA bettors are watching the total as 8 of the past 10 Heat home games have gone OVER the total. Miami is the NBA's highest-scoring home team.
The Knicks will try to spoil to the party on Thursday; they are 11-6 ATS against the number this season, while the Heat are 7-9 ATS. (Note: follow us on Twitter for line updates and injuries news). New York is 8-7-2 on the totals; Miami is 9-7.
View New York vs Miami Odds and Stats.
Betting Line:
Those backing the visitors in this one found the Knicks listed as 7-point underdogs earlier at Sportsbook. Meanwhile, the OVER/UNDER line for this game was set at 202 at Sportsbook but may have moved since Sportsbook.
Power Rankings / Prediction:
The Heat sit at No. 7 in the current NBA Power Rankings here at Odds Shark, while the Knicks are at No. 5 on that chart. Math models have concluded that the Knicks will win this game 108-105.
How They Match Up:
Offensively, the game matches up Miami's No. 2-ranked offense (104.4 PPG) against a Knicks defense that ranks No. 8 at 94.9 PPG. The Heat have averaged 49.3% from the field per game, more than the Knicks have managed so far this season (45.5% on average).
In comparing how the teams stack up statistically, the Knicks own the league's No. 15-rated mark, allowing 98.9 points per game when playing on the road. Miami, on the other hand, rates No. 1 in scoring on their home court.
In their last action, New York was a 100-98 Sportsbook on the road against the Bobcats. They failed to cover the 7.5-point spread as favorites, while the combined score (198) was profitable news for UNDER bettors. Carmelo Anthony scored 23 points leading the Knicks to a 100-98 victory over Charlotte at Time Warner Cable Arena on Wednesday.
In their last action, Miami was a 105-101 loser on the road against the Wizards. They failed to cover the 10-point spread as favorites, while the combined score (206) was profitable news for OVER bettors. The Heat got a 26-point performance from LeBron James, who added 13 rebounds, but Washington still ran past Miami 105-101 on Tuesday at Verizon Center.
New York Knicks Trends:
When playing on Thursday are 8-2
Before playing Chicago are 6-4
After playing Charlotte are 5-5
After a win are 7-3
Miami Heat Trends:
When playing on Thursday are 5-5
Before playing New Orleans are 7-3
After playing Washington are 6-4
After a loss are 7-3
A few Knicks at Heat trends to consider:
New York is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of New York's last 11 games when playing Miami
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of New York's last 6 games when playing on the road against Miami
New York is 2-5-1 ATS in its last 8 games when playing Miami
Miami is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
Miami is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against New York
Miami is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Miami's last 11 games when playing New York
Next up:
New York at Chicago, Saturday, December 8
Miami home to New Orleans, Saturday, December 8
