Miami Heat (49-40) vs. New York Knicks (51-36)
April 30, 2023 1:00 pm EDT
The Line: New York Knicks -4.5; Over/Under: +208
(Get latest betting odds)
The Miami Heat and New York Knicks meet Sunday in Game 1 of the NBA East Semifinals Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Let’s preview this game and give out a pick and prediction.
The Miami Heat are averaging 124 points on 51.9 percent shooting and allowing 118.8 points on 47.5 percent shooting. Jimmy Butler is averaging 37.6 points and 6 rebounds, while Bam Adebayo is averaging 17.4 points and 8.6 rebounds. Gabe Vincent is the third double-digit scorer and Caleb Martin is grabbing 5.4 rebounds. The Miami Heat are shooting 45 percent from beyond the arc and 74.8 percent from the free throw line. The Miami Heat are allowing 37.9 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 42.6 rebounds per game.
The New York Knicks are averaging 99.6 points on 43 percent shooting and allowing 94.2 points on 44.9 percent shooting. Jalen Brunson is averaging 24 points and 4.2 rebounds, while RJ Barrett is averaging 17.4 points and 4.2 rebounds. Julius Randle is the third double-digit scorer and Josh Hart is grabbing 7.8 rebounds. The New York Knicks are shooting 28.2 percent from beyond the arc and 75.6 percent from the free throw line. The New York Knicks are allowing 32.7 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 45.4 rebounds per game.
The Heat are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 Sunday games and 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games overall. The Knicks are 10-4-1 ATS in their last 15 home games and 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall. The over is 17-5 in Heat last 22 overall. The under is 5-0 in Knicks last 5 overall. The Heat are 11-5 ATS in the last 16 meetings in New York and 1-4 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
It seems like everybody is on the New York Knicks bandwagon after their short series against the Cavs, and they have won 4 of the last 5 meetings against the Heat. The Knicks have also been covering machines all year. Still, I’m not leaving points on the table with the Heat, a team that made short work of the betting favorites to win the title in the Bucks. Butler is the hottest player in the playoffs, and this Heat team overall has been the best offensive team in these playoffs. Small sample size still, but the Heat appears to have flipped a switch. Give me the road dog.
