The East-leading Miami Heat (47-26) look to snap a two-game skid when they host the New York Knicks (31-42) Friday. Tip-off from FTX Arena will be at 8 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Knicks vs. Heat odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions and bets.
The Knicks are fighting for their playoff lives right now, sitting five games back of the 10th-seed Atlanta Hawks. New York needs every victory it can get with only nine games remaining and its been making it interesting in recent weeks. The Knicks are 3-2 in their last five games and 6-4 in their last 10. While they rank seventh in points allowed (106.9), they’re just 27th in scoring (106.3).
The Heat have lost their last two games and now hold just a one-game lead over the Milwaukee Bucks for the top seed in the Eastern Conference. They lost 113-106 to the Philadelphia 76ers as 8-point favorites Monday and were crushed 118-104 by the Golden State Warriors Wednesday despite being 9.5-point favorites. The Heat had won six of their eight games prior to the two losses.
- Money line: Knicks +210 (bet $100 to win $210) | Heat -270 (bet $270 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Knicks +6.5 (-115) | Heat -6.5 (-107)
- Over/Under (O/U): 215.5 (O: -107 | U: -115)
Knicks at Heat key injuries
Knicks
- C Nerlens Noel (foot) out
- PF Julius Randle (quad) questionable
- SG Cam Reddish (shoulder) out
- C Mitchell Robinson (back) questionable
- PG Derrick Rose (ankle) out
Heat
- SF Jimmy Butler (ankle) questionable
- SG Tyler Herro (knee) questionable
- SF Caleb Martin (knee) questionable
- SG Victor Oladipo (knee) out
- SF Duncan Robinson (Achilles) questionable
- SF P.J. Tucker (knee) questionable
- SG Gabe Vincent (toe) out
Knicks at Heat odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Heat 110, Knicks 108
Money line
Both teams are fairly banged up and are in danger of potentially missing a couple of starters. That should keep the Knicks in this one, assuming Randle and Robinson are able to play.
However, I’m going to PASS with so much up in the air as of now, and the Heat money line sitting at a steep -270.