Golden State Warriors at Miami Heat Betting Preview
The Golden State Warriors are showing a bit of a championship hangover early in 2022/23, as they’ve started off just 3-4. That mark includes an 0-3 record on the road, but GSW is still a -1 point favorite over the equally struggling Miami Heat.
Miami has started off the season just 2-5, and a big reason they are home underdogs on Tuesday is due to their 1-3 mark at FTX Arena this season.
The Warriors also beat the Heat 123-110 last Thursday at the Chase Center, although Miami was on the back-to-back after handing Portland their first loss of the season the night before.
Can Warriors Get Off Their Skid
Golden State has gone 0-2 on their current five-game road trip, which includes trips to Orlando and New Orleans following the visit to South Beach on Tuesday night. The Warriors’ back-to-back losses have come in Charlotte (120-113) and at Detroit (128-114).
What really sticks out about the losses to the Hornets and Pistons is Golden State allowing an average of 124 ppg. In fact, the Warriors have allowed 120+ in five of their last six, with their best defensive performance coming against the Heat last Thursday, holding them to 110 points.
Klay Thompson did rest in Detroit on Sunday on the second leg of consecutive games, but he should be back in the lineup against the Heat. Thompson had a solid 19 points against Miami in the previous meeting, but it was Steph Curry who shined with 33 points to go along with nine assists.
Spoelstra Thinks the Heat are Close
Even though Heat fans may be in panic mode after the 2-5 start, their coach Erik Spoelstra has remained calm – perhaps even upbeat – in saying that Miami is going to click soon.
That being said, a 1-3 home stand to start the year wasn’t ideal, although the Heat are back at FTX Arena with a couple of extra days off following a trip out West that culminated in a 119-113 loss in Sacramento on Saturday.
Golden State hit 50% of their shots against the Heat last week, so Miami is hoping that percentage is a little lower on their own court.
Jimmy Butler had 27 points last Thursday, and Bam Adebayo added 26, and Miami still lost by 13, so you wonder how much more production from that duo you can expect in order to pick up this much-needed victory?
Warriors at Heat Pick and Prediction
This really does look like a toss-up game, and the one-point spread indicates as much. Not knowing who to go with here isn’t necessarily because it’s two quality teams squaring off, but more so the fact that both are in an early-season slump.
Ultimately the Heat have had an extra day off, and you often see when a team loses the first matchup with an opponent on the road, they get their revenge back at home.
The fact that Golden State is only a one-point favorite, even though they are a very popular team to wager on, suggests that Miami probably picks up this win.
Pick: Heat +1