Heat vs. Trail Blazers prediction, odds, pick, spread

We’re ready for another betting prediction and pick for Saturday’s NBA action slate as we head to Portland for the next cross-conference matchup. The Miami Heat (19-17) will download on Portland Trail Blazers (13-24) as both sides meet for the first time this season. It’s time to continue our NBA odds series with Heat-Trail Blazers predictions and picks.

The Miami Heat are currently sixth in the Eastern Conference, and last beat the Utah Jazz 97-92. They have now won back-to-back games after a three-game losing streak and will be hoping for another win away from home as short favourites.

The Portland Trail Blazers are currently ranked 13th in the Western Conference. They are 4-6 in their last 10 games and most recently fell to the Dallas Mavericks 117-111. This will be their first game against the Heat as they try to open the series with a win.

Here are the Heat-Trail Blazers NBA oddscourtesy of FanDuel.

NBA odds: Heat-Trail Blazers odds

Miami Heat: -4 (-110)

Moneilines: -178

Portland Trail Blazers: +4 (-110)

Moneilines: +150

Over: 217.5 (-112)

Under: 217.5 (-108)

How to watch Heat vs. Trail Blazers

Time: 10pm ET/ 7pm PT

TV: Balli Sports Sun, NBA Pass

*Watch NBA games LIVE with fuboTV (Get Access | Save $30)*

Why the heat might cover the spread/win

The Miami Heat are on a new hitting streak and despite all the drama surrounding Jimmy Butler and the organization, they’ve managed to stay focused and win games. Tyler Hero was their leading scorer last game with 23 points and has taken over as their primary leader without Butler on the floor. Jaime Jacques Jr. also exceeded his averages after seeing an increased role on offense, so this Miami team is slowly building an identity again without its superstar.

A big development for the Heat is the emergence of Kel’el Ware as a reliable option off the bench. Not only is he capable of big scoring like we’ve seen from him recently, but he’s also very strong in rebounding and their athletic presence. Duncan Robinson has been down from three the past few games, but it’s only a matter of time before he gets hot again and starts making a difference in close games.

Why the Trail Blazers could cover the spread/win

The Trail Blazers haven’t had much going their way this season, but that hasn’t stopped them from staying competitive for most of their games. While Anferni Simmons was their only reliable scorer from a year ago, both Shaedon Sharpe and Jerami Grant have emerged as reliable options to help in the effort. The Blazers also have a revamped interior highlighted by Deandre Ayton and Donovan Clingan, so this Blazers team should continue to improve with each game this season.

Although they tend to fall behind in the early stages of their games, the Trail Blazers have shown a great ability to score quickly and keep going without an answer when faced with a deficit. The team is full of players who can heat up in an instant, so a large part of their game is based on finding the hot hand and feeding them early and often. Look for Danny Avdia to play a significant role in distributing the ball and combating the Miami Heat with his size along the perimeter.

Heat-Trail Blazers final prediction and pick

While the Miami Heat are dealing with turmoil surrounding Jimmy Butler, Tyler Hero and Terry Rozier have been able to pick up the slack and keep them competitive throughout their games. This Miami team has a strong identity on the defensive side of the ball, so expect them to give Portland some trouble during this game.

The Portland Trail Blazers are playing much better basketball at this point in the season and if they are able to warm up any of their starters from the floor, they should be able to get some shots against a tough Heat offense.

This first meeting between these two teams should be indicative of how their second game will go, but I think the Trail Blazers are enjoying some success with their lineup right now, and the same can’t be said for the Heat. Miami has also struggled to score the ball effectively, so we’ll side with the Blazers because of their energy and chemistry over the last few games.

Heat-Trail Blazers Final Prediction and Pick: Portland Trail Blazers ()