Indiana Pacers vs Miami Heat Prediction & Betting Tips - NBA

Prediction published on 07/04/2024, 03:07  by Kennedy Kechula in NBA Prediction

The Indiana Pacers will be at home to welcome the Miami Heat in an exciting Eastern Conference battle in the NBA. Both teams are bumper to bumper in the East standings with the Pacers in sixth having a slight advantage over the seventh-placed Heat. The Pacers hold a half-game advantage on the Heat in the race for automatic playoff qualification. They have compiled a 44-34 record and are coming off a big win over West highflyers OKC. Rick Carlisle’s men defeated the Thunder 126-112 at home to get back to winning ways. Before the game, they had lost on the road to the Nets to see a two-game winning run snapped. The Pacers, who defeated the Heat 144-129 away from home the last time they battled, have four more regular season matches to navigate. Tyrese Haliburton is questionable for this game and so too is Jalen Smith. Bennedict Mathurin is still out injured. Indiana have averaged 123.3 Points over their last three matches.

Whoever wins this fixture secures this regular season series 2-1. The Heat won the first matchup back in December at home. Another win will also see them leapfrog their opponents and get into the automatic playoff places. Erik Spoelstra’s men are also coming off a win. Miami got back to winning ways last time out by defeating the Rockets away from home 119-104. They had earlier lost to the Sixers to see a three-match winning run snapped. The win in Houston improved their record to 43-34. Miami can drop to eighth if they lose here as they only have a half-game advantage over their closest challengers. Josh Richardson will not be available here. He is the only injury concern for the Heat who have averaged 111 points over their last three matches.