NBA: Miami Heat vs. Houston Rockets Preview, Odds, Prediction

Miami Heat is looking much better since Jimmy Butler came back, and they are now after their fourth win in a row. The Houston Rockets, on the other hand, aren’t in the same position, and after an excellent stretch, they’ve fallen into a minor crisis. Though we need to say, that the team from Texas had a nasty schedule. As for the Heat, they are about to face the same with seven straight road-matches. 

Preview

Miami Heat (10-14, TBA) comes to Toyota Center after three straight wins, and a boost of morale following back to back wins over the nasty New York Knicks. What is especially important for Erik Spoelstra is that his crew managed to beat the Knicks in dramatic endings, which lifts the team’s spirit.

The latest win, 98-96, saw Jimmy Butler dominating the floor with 26 points, 10 assists, and eight boards. Jimmy B was terrific on both ends of the floor, and we can say that this team with and without him is not the same at all. 

Kelly Olynik had 20 points, and six hits from downtown in eight shots, while Bam Adebayo added 19 buckets, shooting the free-throws 13-for-16. The Heat will have extremely tough rivals on this tour, including the Lakers, Clippers, Jazz, Warriors, and the Kings. 

Houston Rockets (11-13, TBA) are in trouble due to injuries. Two of their top players, Christian Wood, who is the top scorer of the crew following James Harden’s departure with 22 points, plus adding 10.2 boards per game. The next scorer, Victor Oladipo, is also problematic. He, too, has some health issues. 

John Wall needs to step up now and move the Rockets. The former No.1 pick who arrived from Washington during the summer, records 19.2 points per game with 6 assists, and we are pretty sure that he can to much better than that. Wall will need some more time to regain his previous form and create chemistry with the new teammates, but in some month or two, he should be that lethal player from two years ago. 

Houston, too can be much better. They won six in seven matches before these three consecutive losses. The latest event was a blowout defeat against the New Orleans Pelicans, 130-101. Wall had 25 points in this event, and Eric Gordon 23, but without some notable help from the others. DeMarcus Cousins delivered just 7 points. 

Head to Head

Believe it or not, when looking at the overall series between these two sides, the score is even with 33 wins apiece. Both teams used the home-court advantage the previous year, posting a win. Rockets in Houston 117-108 and the Heat in Miami, 129-100. 

Prediction

It will be a risky suggestion, but we are most definitely for going with Miami’s win in this match. Without Oladipo and especially Wood, who would provide some balance in scoring between the frontcourt and the backcourt, the Rockets have nothing to hope for, in our humble opinion. They will have to concentrate on Wall and Gordon, and against the Heat, who have a much more diverse attack, that simply won’t work.