The daily preview takes it to the rim with NBA tips for a clash between Eastern Conference adversaries Brooklyn Nets and Miami Heat.
NBA Tips – Brooklyn Nets V Miami Heat
10:30 (AEDT), Thu 28th Oct @ Barclays Center, Brooklyn
History: Played 143: Heat 87 V Nets 56
Last meeting: April 18, 2021: Heat 109 d Nets 107 at American Airlines Arena
Final Thoughts: Brooklyn Nets and Miami Heat are both chasing consecutive wins for the first time as the NBA season moves into its second week.
The 2-2 Nets opened up with a heavy loss to the Bucks (127-104), rebounded with a win over the 76ers (114-109), took a step back with a defeat to the Hornets (111-95) and rallied again with a victory over the Wizards (104-90).
Kevin Durant has been leading the way for the Nets, averaging 31 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.8 assists. James Harden (17.2 pts, 7 reb, 8.2 ast) has also been solid as Kyrie Irving his anti-vax-enforced stint on the sidelines.
But arguably the most notable individual Nets story to come out of the first week of the season has been Patty Mills. The 33-year-old Aussie has staked an early claim for Sixth Man of the Year honours, twice scoring 20-plus points and hitting five-plus threes.
Butler fires up for Heat
The Heat have played three games, bookending big home wins over Bucks (137-95) and Magic (107-90) with a road loss to the Pacers (102-91). Marquee man Jimmy Butler stepped up against Orlando with 36 points on 15-for-21 shooting.
Meanwhile, Tyler Herro (averaging 23.3 pts, 7 reb, 4.7 ast) and Bam Adebayo (17.7 pts, 14 reb) have picked up where they left off last season. Kyle Lowry’s start to life in Miami has been interrupted briefly by an ankle injury, but he returned with eight assists against the Magic.
Five of the teams’ six encounters over the past two seasons were decided by four points or less. Last season the Nets won 128-124 and 98-85 at home, before the Heat turned the tables 109-107 in the sole clash in Miami.
The Heat boast the best defensive rating in the NBA so far; the Nets are 19th in that department. They are 14th offensively with the patchy Nets just 21st.
Give me the points here – the Heat should present a real challenge to a Nets side yet to genuinely hits its straps to date.
Tip: Handicap – Heat +4.5 @ $1.90
OTHER NBA GAMES |
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| TEAMS | ||
| Orlando Magic V Charlotte Hornets | Handicap – Magic +6 @ $1.90 | |
| New Orleans Pelicans V Atlanta Hawks | Handicap – Hawks -6 @ $1.90 | |
| Toronto Raptors V Indiana Pacers | Result – Pacers @ $2.00 | |
| Boston Celtics V Washington Wizards | Handicap – Celtics -4.5 @ $1.93 | |
| Milwaukee Bucks V Minnesota Timberwolves | Margin – Bucks 11-20 | |
| Oklahoma City Thunder V LA Lakers | Margin – Lakers 11-20 | |
| Phoenix Suns V Sacramento Kings | Under 226 @ $1.90 | |
| LA Clippers V Cleveland Cavaliers | Handicap – Cavleris +7.5 $1.93 | |
| Portland Trail Blazers V Memphis Grizzlies | Result – Grizzlies @ $2.08 | |