Miami Heat vs Toronto Raptors Prediction & Betting Tips - NBA

Prediction published on 13/04/2024, 17:45  by Devesh Jaganath | Modified on 13/04/2024 at 18:45 in NBA Prediction

The Miami Heat will play host to the Toronto Raptors in their final match of the NBA regular season on Sunday. The hosts are 45-36 and eighth in the Eastern Conference while the visitors are 25-56 and 12th in the Conference standings. 

With Nikola Jovic's 22 points and Jaime Jaquez Jr.'s 20 points and nine assists off the bench, the Miami Heat secured a commanding 125-103 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Friday night. The Heat dominated from the start, shooting 52.3% from the field, including 41.5% from beyond the arc. Currently in eighth place in the Eastern Conference with one game left, Miami still harbors hopes of clinching a top-six playoff berth. They trail the Orlando Magic, Indiana Pacers, and Philadelphia 76ers by just one game in the battle for the final two postseason spots, with two of those four teams set to enter the play-in tournament. Despite ranking 27th in points scored with 110.0 per game, the Heat boast the third-best defense in the NBA, allowing just 108.5 points per game. With everything still up for grabs, Miami enters their next game as overwhelming favorites against their opponent.

The Toronto Raptors, who have long resigned to their fate this season, faced an uphill battle against the Miami Heat on Friday night, missing several key players. Despite efforts from Immanuel Quickley and Bruce Brown, Toronto couldn't mount a comeback after falling behind early, and shooting 48.1% from the field and 10 of 31 from behind the arc didn’t help to bridge the gap in any way. Offensively, the Raptors rank 21st in the league, averaging 112.5 points per game, while defensively, they've struggled, allowing 118.8 points per game. Although eager to finish the season on a positive note, overcoming a determined Heat side fighting for seeding will require a monumental effort.