The Miami Heat and New York Knicks meet Tuesday in Game 2 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 121.3 points on 50.4 percent shooting and allowing 115.8 points on 47.5 percent shooting. Jimmy Butler is averaging 35.5 points and 6.8 rebounds, while Bam Adebayo is averaging 17.2 points and 8.5 rebounds. Gabe Vincent is the third double-digit scorer and Caleb Martin is grabbing 5.3 rebounds. The Miami Heat are shooting 42.9 percent from beyond the arc and 75.8 percent from the free throw line. The Miami Heat are allowing 35.4 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 42 rebounds per game.
The New York Knicks are averaging 99.8 points on 43.8 percent shooting and allowing 96.5 points on 44.4 percent shooting. Jalen Brunson is averaging 24.2 points and 4.3 rebounds, while RJ Barrett is averaging 18.8 points and 5 rebounds. Julius Randle is the third double-digit scorer and Josh Hart is grabbing 7.8 rebounds. The New York Knicks are shooting 26.8 percent from beyond the arc and 73.5 percent from the free throw line. The New York Knicks are allowing 32.8 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 45.8 rebounds per game.
The Heat are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games playing on 1 days rest and 4-0 ATS in their last 4 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 16-5 in Heat last 21 overall. The under is 6-0 in Knicks last 6 overall. The Heat are 12-5 ATS in the last 17 meetings in New York and 1-4 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
The status of Jimmy Butler is obviously key in this game, and you should get confirmation before placing a wager. Still, I’m taking the Heat and the points given that I believe they’re the better team, and we’ve been making money on them all playoffs. The Heat have yet to be favored in a playoff game this year, and yet they’re 5-1 ATS and 5-1 SU. The Heat are 8-4 ATS and 8-4 SU in their last 12 playoff games as an underdog overall. You make money just blindly backing the Heat in these spots this time of year. Give me the points.