We’re just about halfway through the 2022/23 NBA season, and not many people predicted that both the Miami Heat (20-19) and the Phoenix Suns (20-19) would only be toiling around .500 at this point in the year. The Suns seem the worse off of the two as losers of seven of their last eight.
Both Phoenix and Miami are in an interesting position for Friday night’s matchup. The Heat are wrapping up a five-game West Coast road trip (2-2), while the Suns finally get a home contest after six tilts away from the desert (1-5) on their NBA schedule.
Miami Heat vs. Phoenix Suns Odds
The Heat vs Suns odds are somewhat interesting, with Miami being a -1 point favorite. Sure, Phoenix has lost seven of their last eight, but they also haven’t played a home contest since December 23rd. Location is important in Phoenix Suns odds because they are a night-and-day team at home (14-5) compared to on the road (6-14).
These two clubs had an extremely tight game in their first meeting of the season, with Miami winning 113-112 in South Beach but failing to cover the -2.5 in the Heat vs Suns odds. That first NBA matchup soared over the 216.5 total, but that number has stayed steady at 216 for the rematch.
Matchup Information
NBA – Miami Heat vs Phoenix Suns
Location of the game: Footprint Center. Phoenix, AZ.
Time: Friday, 6th January, 9:00 PM
How to watch: ESPN
Miami Heat vs. Phoenix Suns Betting Analysis
The Heat being favored on Friday’s NBA odds is a little bit interesting just for the fact that they could be a little road weary here, wrapping up a five-game road trip where their most recent result was a 112-109 loss to the Lakers when Miami was a -8.5 favorite.
Jimmy Butler usually loves trips to L.A., but he had just 9 points vs. the Clippers on Monday night, although he did follow that up with 27 against the Lakers. C Bam Adebayo has been in the news ahead of the Miami Heat game today, with teams reportedly calling about his availability in a trade, but he’d command a king’s ransom after going for 30+ points in three straight and averaging 13 rebounds the last two games.
Phoenix Has a Struggling Offense
Phoenix hasn’t adjusted to life without Devin Booker (groin) well. He had 58 points vs. New Orleans on December 17th but has played just four minutes since then, and the Suns are 2-7. It turns out it’s not easy replacing 27.1 ppg in NBA player stats, and Phoenix has been held to 104 or less in each of their last four games.
Phoenix has a struggling offense, and despite some up-and-downs this year, Miami is still playing their trademark stingy defense, giving up the third-fewest points in the NBA (109.5) while ranking eighth in efficiency for NBA team stats.
Miami Heat vs. Phoenix Suns Betting Preview
Phoenix is 4-12 over their last 16, and this is a team that does not believe T.G.I.F. as they’ve dropped 10 of their last 11 Friday tilts. Chris Paul had 25 points on Wednesday in a 90-88 loss at Cleveland, so he’s trying to pick up the scoring slack in Booker’s absence, but the Suns are much better when the veteran can just be a facilitator of the offense.
Miami has gone 12-2 ATS in their last 14 visits to Phoenix, which gives the visitors great value in Friday’s Heat vs Suns odds. You do worry a bit about the Phoenix Suns being so good at home this season, but their last two games at the Footprint Center post the Booker injury have been a 25-point loss to Memphis and a 113-110 to the sub.500 Wizards.
Miami is Getting Back to Home
Miami should be able to pick up the win here, and in a way, the -1 point spread seems a bit off. The only thing concerning is if the Heat are looking ahead to getting back home for the first time since December 28th following their most recent road trip.
The first meeting this year in the Miami and Phoenix Suns odds went ‘over’ the betting total, but that was also helped by 25 points from Booker and a random 21 points from Duane Washington, Jr.
The Suns offense is struggling now, and the rematch will be lower scoring Friday’s NBA expert picks.
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