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Carrie Stroup here with your Heat vs. Knicks betting line for Sunday’s NBA action. Open an online account at Sportsbook.com and receive a FREE $100 BET here.
Sportsbook.ag Line & Total: Miami -4.5 & 198
Sizzling-hot Miami seeks a 14th straight victory when it visits the Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Sunday afternoon.
Although Miami has won 13 in a row since Feb. 3, the Heat have failed to cover three straight games, all at home. But they were a perfect 5-0 (SU and ATS) on the road in February, winning at Toronto by 15, at Oklahoma City by 10, at Atlanta by 13, at Chicago by 19 and at Philadelphia by a whopping 24 points. New York is also riding a win streak, prevailing in three straight games. But Friday's eight-point victory at Washington was the first time the Knicks have covered a spread since Feb. 4, as the team went 0-7-1 ATS from Feb. 6-27. New York has dominated both meetings with the Heat this season, winning by 20 points in each game. The Knicks won 104-84 at home on Nov. 12 and 112-92 in Miami on Dec. 6. However, the Heat are 14-5 SU (10-8-1 ATS) in this series since 2009, including last year's 4-games-to-1 playoff series victory.
The Heat have scored 103.8 PPG this season, while allowing 96.6 PPG. But during the 13-game win streak, they have put up 108.4 PPG (52% FG, 42% threes) and allowed just 96.1 PPG on 46% FG and 36% threes. Nobody on the planet is playing better than SF LeBron James (27.1 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 7.3 APG), who has 28.9 PPG on 63% shooting (44% threes) during the win streak to go along with 8.4 APG and 7.6 RPG. He hit just 4-of-14 shots in Friday's win over Memphis but still recorded at least 10 assists for the fourth time in the past six games. James has 27.0 PPG versus the Knicks this season, which is actually below is gaudy 27.7 PPG average in 32 career games against New York. James has been even better at Madison Square Garden with 29.5 PPG (48% FG), 6.9 RPG and 6.5 APG in 15 visits to Manhattan. SG Dwyane Wade (21.5 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 4.8 APG) has also been outstanding during the 13-game win streak with 24.3 PPG (54% FG), 6.0 RPG and 5.7 APG. But he has struggled versus New York this season with a mere 14.0 PPG (44% FG), 4.0 RPG and 2.5 APG. PF Chris Bosh (16.9 PPG, 7.1 RPG) has put up solid numbers of 16.5 PPG (55% FG) and 6.6 RPG during the current winning streak, but has made just 8-of-25 shots (32%) against the Knicks this season, posting 12.0 PPG and 8.5 RPG.
New York has scored 100.2 PPG this season, making 44.2% FG and 37.1% threes. Defensively, the Knicks allow just 96.3 PPG on 45.8% FG and 36.4% threes. Although they have won three straight games with 101.3 PPG, they are shooting just 42% FG and 28% threes during this win streak. But the defense held the Wizards to 11 fourth-quarter points on Friday to pull away for the 96-88 win. SF Carmelo Anthony (28.6 PPG, 6.4 RPG) scored 30 points with six boards at Washington, which actually lowered his scoring average to 31.5 PPG in the past four games. Anthony also scored 30 points with 10 rebounds in the home win over the Heat on Nov. 2, but shot just 10-of-28 from the field. He did not play in the win at Miami in December due to a cut on his left hand that required stitches. PG Raymond Felton (14.8 PPG, 6.0 APG) has played pretty well during the three-game win surge with 15.7 PPG, including 23 points at Washington. But he has just 3.7 APG over his past nine games, a far cry from the 6.6 APG he posted in his first 34 contests. Felton has been a big key to his team's dominance of Miami this season with 20.5 PPG (46% FG, 9-of-17 threes), 8.0 APG and 4.0 RPG in the two victories. SG J.R. Smith (16.1 PPG, 5.0 RPG) has made just 7-of-26 FG (27%) against the Heat this season, but has been on fire in his past four games with 18.0 PPG on 48% FG and 15-of-31 threes. He also pulled down 12 rebounds before fouling out of Friday's win at Washington.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
