Heat vs Trail Blazers Prediction
Where: Moda Center at the Rose Quarter, Portland
When: April 11, 2021, at 10 pm EST
Odds: According to BetMGM
Spread: Miami +1 (-115) | Trail Blazers -1 (-110)
Money Line: Miami (-110) | Trail Blazers (-110)
Over/Under: Over 221.5 (-110) | Under 221.5 (-105)
Heat vs Trail Blazers Prediction: The Miami Heat (27-25) will travel to Portland to face the Trail Blazers (31-21) for the beginning of a four-game road trip out West.
Both squads come into this game as the sixth seed for their respective conferences. The playoff race in the West is a lot tighter and more competitive than in the East.
This will be the second meeting between the Heat and Trail Blazers for the 2021 season. In their previous game a month ago, the Trail Blazers took a 125-122 win over the Miami Heat.
CJ McCollum’s 35 points were the difference-maker for Portland in knocking off the Heat. However, Erik Spoelstra and the Heat were without their star forward Jimmy Butler.
Background on the 2021 Miami Heat
The Miami Heat have been getting back on track after a shaky couple of games to end March. Miami has won five of their past six games, this has been a trend this season for the Heat. They will lose two or three games in a row then rattle off a four to a five-game winning streak.
Finding consistency and keeping starters healthy is crucial if the Heat want to make another NBA Finals run. Hustle and hard work are the mantras for the Miami Heat, this was evident in their latest win over the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers.
At home, the Heat fought to hold off the Lakers in a 110-104 win. A pivotal 9-2 fourth-quarter run for the Heat held the injury-riddled Lakers in check.
As a team, the Heat shot 47 percent from the field and 10 for 25 from the three-point line. Jimmy Butler led the team with 28 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists.
Victor Oladipo shined as well but would leave the court late in the game after tweaking his knee. Oladipo added 18 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists.
In addition, Tyler Herro scored 15 points off the bench, and Bam Adebayo put up 13 points, 7 rebounds, and four assists. Tonight’s game against the Trail Blazers will be a big-time game for Adebayo as he will be matched up against Enes Kanter.
The rebound battle will likely go Kanters way but athletically and scoring-wise Bam is the much better player.
In the earlier game between these two teams this season, Adebayo put up a monstrous stat line of 29 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists, and 5 blocks. Herro was also all over the court with 29 points, 4 rebounds, and 9 assists of his own. With Oladipo out for the Heat Herro should get a lot of opportunities.
Background on 2021 Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers have been performing at their top level this year. Over their last nine games, the Blazers have won six.
Saturday night the Blazers smoked the Pistons in a 118-103 home win. Damian Lillard led the team with 27 points and 10 assists, next up was CJ McCollum with 26 points, and in a record-setting performance was Enes Kanter with 24 points and 30 rebounds.
As a team, the Trail Blazers shot 47 percent from the field and 13 of 29 from the 3-point line. Portland set the tone early with 33 points in the first quarter to take a double-digit lead that they would hold for the rest of the game.
The Trail Blazers have excelled on the offensive end of the court this season. Portland ranks 5th in the league averaging 116.7 points per 100 possessions. Their defense is putrid though, giving up 117 points per 100 possessions ranking second-worst in the NBA and worst among all teams in the postseason race.
Prediction for Heat-Blazers April 11th
The Heat are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 road games, 11-5 ATS in the last 16 games playing on two days rest, and 1-4 ATS in their last five games with a winning record.
The Trail Blazers are 0-4 ATS in their last four games as an underdog and 0-5 in their last five games against teams with a winning record.
Head to head, the over 5-1 in their last six overall meetings, the Heat are 1-5 ATS in their last six games in Portland and 3-7 ATS in the last ten total meetings
PICK: Heat Moneyline and Over 221
