Heat vs Clippers Pick, Preview & Betting Odds For Monday, January 2nd

Check out our free Heat vs Clippers pick and preview for this NBA game in Los Angeles. See who we like to win and cover the spread in this NBA matchup.

Heat vs Clippers NBA Pick & Preview

Sport: NBA
Teams: Miami Heat at Los Angeles Clippers
Where: Los Angeles at Crypto.com Arena
Date: Monday, January 2nd
Betting Odds LAC -4.5, MIA +152 | LAC -187 O/U 219.0

So far, the Heat have put together an overall record of 19-18, while going 14-22-1 vs the spread. Across the team’s previous 3 games, they have gone 2-1 straight-up and 2-1 vs the spread.

The Heat are coming off a 126-123 win over the Jazz. This away win came despite entering the game as the 4 point underdogs. The Heat made things more interesting than they hoped, as they gave back some of their 6 point halftime lead, by being outscored in the 2nd half. Leading the team in scoring was Bam Adebayo, as he contributed 32 points while hitting 64.7% of his shots.

So far, the Clippers have put together an overall record of 21-17, while going 20-17-1 vs the spread. The Clippers head into today’s action in the midst of a 2 game losing streak. Their average scoring differential in these defeats is -3.5.

In their previous game, the Clippers were favored to win vs the Pacers. However, their 131-130 loss gave them both a straight up and ATS defeat. Los Angeles was not able to turn things around in the 2nd half, as they trailed the Pacers by 1 going into halftime. Leading the team in scoring was Paul George, as he contributed 45 points while hitting 60.0% of his shots.

Head To Head Recap & Stats

I Similar to their season-long average, the Heat averaged 115.0 points per game vs the Clippers. Similar to the Heat, the Clippers scored at a rate near the league average. In their games vs Miami, the team averaged 113.0 points per game. The level of competition has been tight in the 5 most recent games between Heat and Clippers with just -1 points per game separating the teams. Los Angeles has the ATS edge in this span at 4-1. A combined average of 227 points per game was achieved in these matchups, leading to an over-under mark of 5-0.

Odds & Free Betting Analysis For This NBA Game

The Heat come into today’s game as the 30th ranked scoring offense at 109.0 points per game. The Heat come into the game as one of the league’s better 3-point shooting teams, connecting at a rate of 12.5 made 3’s per game. If the Heat offense is going to improve, they could look to play at a faster tempo, as they currently average just 97.4 possession per game. This could benefit the team as they are currently one of the better 3-point shooting units in the NBA.

So far, the Heat have played well defensively, as they are ranked 4th in the league at 105.57 points per contest.

Center Bam Adebayo currently leads the Heat at 21.2 points per game. For the season, he is 55th in the NBA in usage rate and has taken 18.0% of the team’s field goal attempts. In addition to his scoring, Adebayo is averaging 9.8 boards and 3.3 assists per contest. In today’s game, he is facing off against the NBA’s 23rd ranked defense at defending centers. Tyler Herro enters the game sitting second on the team in scoring. Through 29 games, he is averaging 21.4 and is 86th in the league in player efficiency rating.

The Clippers come into today’s game as the 28th ranked scoring offense at 109.7 points per game. So far, the Clippers are averaging 98.1 possessions per game, which places them below the NBA average. Right now, the Clippers offense is in search of answers, as not only do they tend to play at a slow pace, but they are just 18th in effective field goal percentage.

So far, the Clippers have played well defensively, as they are ranked 11th in the league at 108.39 points per contest.

Small-Forward Paul George currently leads the Clippers at 24.4 points per game. For the season, he is 20th in the NBA in usage rate and has taken 21.6% of the team’s field goal attempts. In addition to his scoring, George is averaging 6.2 boards and 5.2 assists per contest. In today’s game, he is facing off against the NBA’s 12th ranked defense at defending small-forwards. Marcus Morris Sr. enters the game sitting second on the team in scoring. Through 35 games, he is averaging 13.4 and is 254th in the league in player efficiency rating.