Date/Time: 02-05-2020, 22:00 EDT / 03:00 GMT
Spread: Los Angeles Clippers -7 Total: +223
In this high caliber matchup between two top-3 teams of each conference, the 2nd in the West LA Clippers (35-15) are hosting the 3rd in the East Miami Heat (34-15), with both teams having won two straight games and looking to extend those small winning streaks tonight.
The Clippers have a 35-15 record (27-23 against the spread) and are sitting in the second place of the West. They have won four of their last five matches and in their last game they won at home against the Spurs with a 108-105 score, not beating the odds. Kawhi Leonard leads the team both in scoring with 27.4 ppg and in rebounding with 7.6, adding 5.2 assists per game. He is followed by Paul George with 22.7 ppg, 6.1 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game.
The Heat have a 34-15 record (28-19-2 against the spread) and are tied with the Celtics in the third place of the East. They have won three of their last four matches and in their last game they won at home against the Sixers with a 137-106 score, beating the odds. Jimmy Butler leads the team both in scoring with 20.7 ppg and in assists made with 6.2, adding 6.8 rebounds per game. He is followed by Goran Dragic with 16 ppg and 5 assists per game.
In their previous meeting earlier this season the Clippers won on the road with a 117-122 score. The Clippers are 21-5 at home, while the Heat are 12-12 on the road. The Clippers are better offensively, scoring 115.3 ppg to Heat’s 112.3, while the Heat are better defensively, allowing 107.9 ppg to the Clippers’ 109.4. The Heat have better percentages both in field goals (47.2% to 46.1%) and in 3-pointers (38% to 36.1%). On the other hand, the Clippers are better in rebounding (48.1 to 45.1), while the Heat are better in assists made (25.2 to 23.4) and both teams commit almost the same number of turnovers (15.1 to 15.2). Bookmakers give the Clippers a -7 spread but the guests are too good and expect them to force a closer game than that tonight.
Heat vs Clippers Prediction: Miami Heat +7 (-108)
