Houston Rockets vs Miami Heat Prediction
February 12
00:30
Houston Rockets
Miami Heat
Houston Rockets vs Miami Heat Prediction
Another cross-conference matchup awaits the Houston Rockets overnight as they host the Miami Heat (10-14), targeting an unlikely but welcome win despite being understaffed with leading points scorer Christian Wood (ankle) sidelined and offseason acquisition John Wall doubtful to feature here.
Can they? Or will Miami build on a three-game winning streak away from home comforts this time around? Read my basketball preview, for the best betting odds ahead of this compelling H2H matchup.
Houston Rockets vs Miami Heat Preview
Miami's away record (3-7) doesn't exactly make for good reading, though Erik Spoelstra's men will be quietly confident they can continue improving those statistics on Friday morning.
They face a depleted Houston side at the Toyota Center, who are missing the aforementioned Wood while John Wall (19.2 pts, 3.7 rebs, 6 ast per game) is listed as day-to-day on their injury report with a sprained ankle. It's likely he'll play but will do so at a level that's not 100%, and it wouldn't be surprising if they targeted him as such.
Sure, they have their own injuries to deal with too: Goran Dragic (ankle) and offseason acquisition Avery Bradley (calf) in particular, but they'll learn to roll with the punches and embrace the challenge - as a team who overperformed expectations last season, kept their core together and want to do even better this year.
They squeezed past the New York Knicks last time out, centred on big nights for five-time All-Star forward Jimmy Butler (26 pts, 10 ast, 8 rebs) as well as PF Kelly Olynyk (20 pts, 6 3 pm, 3 rebs). Who will step up here?
Houston Rockets vs Miami Heat Betting Tips
ESPN's BPI is firmly expecting Miami to prevail in this encounter (67.1%) and judging by Houston's injuries, that's not exactly surprising either.
Victor Oladipo (right quad) didn't feature in the Rockets' blowout loss against New Orleans last time out, and they need more production from DeMarcus Cousins (1-of-8, 7 pts and 7 rebs) and others.
After all, they want to justify themselves as a team truly respected under promising first-year head coach Stephen Silas, after James Harden's acrimonious departure last month. However, I don't see that happening in the short-term with Wood - their best player - sidelined. I'm predicting a Heat win here.
Expert's prediction
Match prediction: Miami Heat to win
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Houston Rockets

114 - 132 Brooklyn Nets
90 - 101 Cleveland Cavaliers
84 - 133 Memphis Grizzlies
122 - 111 Toronto Raptors
112 - 96 Cleveland Cavaliers
100 - 120 Chicago Bulls
118 - 113 Philadelphia 76ers
131 - 119 Washington Wizards
121 - 99 New York Knicks
94 - 101 Miami Heat

Miami Heat
93 - 103 New Orleans Pelicans
80 - 94 Atlanta Hawks
109 - 99 Atlanta Hawks
124 - 116 Utah Jazz
116 - 108 Toronto Raptors
94 - 108 Oklahoma City Thunder
94 - 96 LA Lakers
110 - 118 Sacramento Kings
120 - 112 Golden State Warriors
125 - 118 LA Clippers
Houston Rockets
Miami Heat
Houston Rockets
vs
Miami Heat
Predicted Lineup

Eric Gordon
PJ Tucker
John Wall
DeMarcus Cousins
Jae'Sean Tate
Duncan Robinson
Kelly Olynyk
Kendrick Nunn
Bam Adebayo
Jimmy Butler

114-132 vs Brooklyn Nets (H)
L90-101 vs Cleveland Cavaliers (H)
L84-133 vs Memphis Grizzlies (H)
L111-122 vs Toronto Raptors (A)
L96-112 vs Cleveland Cavaliers (A)
L100-120 vs Chicago Bulls (H)
L113-118 vs Philadelphia 76ers (A)
L119-131 vs Washington Wizards (A)
L99-121 vs New York Knicks (A)
L94-101 vs Miami Heat (H)
L
103-93 vs New Orleans Pelicans (A)
80-94 vs Atlanta Hawks (H)
109-99 vs Atlanta Hawks (H)
124-116 vs Utah Jazz (H)
116-108 vs Toronto Raptors (H)
108-94 vs Oklahoma City Thunder (A)
96-94 vs LA Lakers (A)
118-110 vs Sacramento Kings (A)
112-120 vs Golden State Warriors (A)
118-125 vs LA Clippers (A)

114-132 vs Brooklyn Nets (H)
L90-101 vs Cleveland Cavaliers (H)
L84-133 vs Memphis Grizzlies (H)
L100-120 vs Chicago Bulls (H)
L94-101 vs Miami Heat (H)
L
80-94 vs Atlanta Hawks (H)
109-99 vs Atlanta Hawks (H)
124-116 vs Utah Jazz (H)
116-108 vs Toronto Raptors (H)

111-122 vs Toronto Raptors (A)
L96-112 vs Cleveland Cavaliers (A)
L113-118 vs Philadelphia 76ers (A)
L119-131 vs Washington Wizards (A)
L99-121 vs New York Knicks (A)
L
103-93 vs New Orleans Pelicans (A)
108-94 vs Oklahoma City Thunder (A)
96-94 vs LA Lakers (A)
118-110 vs Sacramento Kings (A)
112-120 vs Golden State Warriors (A)
118-125 vs LA Clippers (A)