Miami Heat vs Los Angeles Lakers Predictions, Odds, Picks

• The Miami Heat are looking to bounce back from a loss in the first game of their five-game road trip.
• The Los Angeles Lakers came together for the first time this season, and will now test their mettle against one of the East’s top teams.
• The Heat have won their last two meetings against the Lakers.

Miami Heat vs Los Angeles Lakers Odds

Odds provided by Caesars Sportsbook.

The Lakers mustered together a team effort to scrape together a win in their last game. While impressive, they face a complete Miami Heat team looking to bounce back from a recent loss. Without James in the lineup, Miami have a clear advantage.

Pick:

Miami Heat def. Los Angeles Lakers

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Head-to-Head: Miami Heat vs Los Angeles Lakers

Injury Report

MIA: Defend as a Unit

The Miami Heat are a well-drilled squad, but in their recent loss to the Denver Nuggets they showed that their team defence isn’t quite as polished as the individual defenders that they tout.

Despite scrambling out to the three-point line in their last game, where the Nuggets shot 29.3% from deep, the Heat allowed the Nuggets to shoot 46.2% from the field as 28 of their 42 field goals were assisted. The Lakers don’t have a passing talent at the level of Nikola Jokic, but Miami need to limit what is created from Los Angeles’ stars.

Miami excels when the pace is slowed and they can settle into a halfcourt defence. The Lakers seem to fill the correct role for Miami to succeed, but they need to be as tenacious defending off the ball as they are on it.

Heat Key Player: (G) Kyle Lowry

Kyle Lowry is one assist away from a triple-double on @NBATV after this wild Caleb Martin finish ?

17 PTS
10 REB
9 AST pic.twitter.com/4NXPectKqy

— NBA (@NBA) November 7, 2021

The Heat is coming off of a big loss against the Denver Nuggets. When they take on the Los Angeles Lakers, they’ll need much more than they got from All-Star Kyle Lowry this time out.

In his last game, Kyle Lowry was dreadful. He was held scoreless on 0 for 8 shooting and contributed just 4 assists, 3 rebounds, and 3 turnovers.

Lowry is supposed to be the Heat’s general, who initiates their offense. When he can’t punish teams for hanging off of him the Heat suddenly looks very average. Miami’s success against the Lakers will be on his shoulders.

LAL: Win the Battle on the Glass

The Los Angeles Lakers are coming off of a gritty victory over the Charlotte Hornets. While they stole a game away in overtime, they have a lot to improve on – mostly their effort on the boards.

It’s difficult to see a lineup that includes Anthony Davis, Russell Westbrook, DeAndre Jordan, and Dwight Howard and think that they’ll lose the rebounding battle. However, that’s exactly what happened against the energetic Hornets. The Lakers were contained on the glass 55 to 51, while also allowing 14 offensive rebounds to their 8.

The Heat are the top team in the league when it comes to rebounding, despite the “small” lineup that they tend to run. The Lakers have a lot of skilled players, but not many that you’d consider blue-collar. They can’t be outworked if they want to win against the Heat.

Lakers Key Player: (F) Anthony Davis

ANTHONY DAVIS CAN’T STOP DUNKING ? pic.twitter.com/es0WbNEFTw

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 9, 2021

When the Lakers take the court without LeBron James, it is supposed to be Anthony Davis who picks up the slack. He hasn’t been consistent in that regard but rose to the challenge in their overtime victory on Monday.

Davis finished his last game with 32 points, 12 rebounds, 5 blocks, 4 assists, and 3 steals in an overtime victory. He even scored 6 of the Lakers’ 11 overtime points.

If James continues to sit out, Davis is the one player that can make a massive difference when he’s on the court. Offensively, defensively, or both, an engaged Davis can lock down any opposing team.

How to Watch Miami Heat vs Los Angeles Lakers