The Washington Wizards get their 2018-19 season underway as they play host to the Miami Heat at the Capital One Arena. The Wizards and Heat split their four-game season series last year and Washington opened as a 5-point favorite for tonight’s game. The two teams had an average combined score of 208.75 in their games last season and tonight’s total opened at 212.5.
- The Heat are 4-2 SU and 4-1-1 ATS in their last six road games vs the Wizards.
- The Wizards are 12-4 SU in their last 16 games vs their division at home.
- The total has gone OVER in 12 of the Heat’s last 17 games vs the Wizards (avg. combined score: 205.29).
Miami struggled shooting the ball in its first game
The Heat have already got their feet under them as they took on the Magic last night at the Amway Center. Miami was on the losing end of that affair, falling 104-101. Orlando was consistent in the game, scoring 25 points in three of the four quarters while scoring 29 in the other. On the other hand, the Heat had an up-and-down game, scoring 58 combined points in the first and third quarters, but only a combined 43 points in quarters two and four. The biggest issue for Miami was its shooting percentage: the Heat hit 27.3 percent of their three-point attempts and only shot 39.2 percent from the floor overall.
Miami played Washington tough at Capital One Arena last year, claiming a victory in their first meeting in November 91-88 and pushing the second game to overtime before losing 117-113. Meanwhile, at American Airlines Arena, points were a lot more plentiful as the Heat lost the first meeting 102-93, but won the second game 129-102. Wizards shooting guard Bradley Beal led the season series with an average of 24 points per game.
Wizards look to dominate the perimeter
Washington takes the court for the first time this season looking to get off on the right foot. The Wizards won the first game of the season last year and look to win back-to-back season openers for the first time in 13 years. In 2017-18, Washington averaged 106.6 points per game, which ranked fifth-best in the Eastern Conference, and had a strong three-point shooting percentage of 37.5 which ranked second in the conference and tied for third in the NBA.
Last year, the Wizards had difficulties cleaning the glass, averaging 43.1 rebounds per game to rank 21st in the league, including just 33.1 defensive rebounds per game, which also ranked 21st. Washington made a move to clean up that area of its game, signing eight-time all-star Dwight Howard, who is also a five-time NBA rebounding leader. The big man’s status is up in the air for tonight’s game, though, as he is dealing with a hip muscle injury that resulted in him missing the entire preseason.
Should you be on the UNDER tonight?
Washington and Miami have had an average combined score of 205.29 in their last 17 meetings and Sportsbook has tonight’s total Sportsbook at 212 points. Only twice over the last 30 meetings between these two clubs has the total been set at 210 or more points and both of those games went UNDER. Additionally, four of the last six games at Capital One Arena between Miami and Washington have gone UNDER with an average combined score of 199.67. Lastly, the total has gone UNDER in eight of the last 13 regular-season home games for the Wizards.
My Take on Miami vs Washington
I like the UNDER 212.5 points in tonight’s game based on the points in the paragraph above. In addition, Miami allowed the fourth-fewest points per game in the league last year at 102.9 and held Orlando to just 104 points last night in a game that had a combined score of 205 points. Meanwhile, Washington finished in a tie for fifth-best in the NBA in opponent three-point shooting percentage at 34.9 percent, while offensively Miami ranked 15th in the league hitting 36 percent of its three-point attempts. Lastly, the two teams had an average combined score of 208.75 in their four contests last year.
