Free Picks: Toronto Raptors vs. Miami Heat

The Miami Heat are one of a handful of teams that have been feeling the ill effects of the COVID pandemic a little more than others, with multiple games being postponed and the squad being forced to play without many key players as they’re forced to quarantine in accordance with the league’s health and safety protocols. The Raptors have had no such problems as they continue to be forced to play away from home in an arena in Tampa Bay.

It’s almost as if the Raptors don’t even have any home games this season, not only playing thousands of miles from their home arena, but also having to deal with Floridian fans coming to Raptors home games to cheer for the opposite team. The group was showing a serious lack of confidence and swagger as they started the season 2-8, but since a last-second loss to the Portland Trail Blazers last Monday, the Raptors have been like Stella—they’ve got their groove back.

The Raps have rattled off three straight triumphs and are in prime position to make that trio a quartet with a Miami team that’s decidedly low on players that put the heat in ‘Heat’ stumbling into Amalie Arena on Wednesday. While the Raptors have had and continue to have no COVID-related issues, Miami will be heading up to Tampa from South Beach without Jimmy Butler, Meyers Leonard, and Avery Bradley due to health and safety protocols. Tyler Herro is also questionable with a neck injury.

The best ability is availability, so we’re taking the Raptors to easily cover a -3.5 point spread at -116 odds (22Bet) that could be one of the best nba picks of the night against a severely undermanned Heat team.

Miami’s multi-talented center, Bam Adebayo, will be making the trip to Tampa Bay, however. Did anyone else know his real name is Edrice? Looking through the prop bets I noticed the name and thought Bam had a brother in the league for a second, but I digress. Edrice should be in line for another big game on Wednesday night.

He’s coming off back-to-back 28-point performances with a fellow big in Leonard and a volume-shooter in Butler both out of the lineup. Expect Bam to come out with a lot of fire once again, this time going up against a Toronto frontcourt that has yet to find the answer at center—though if Chris Boucher starts at the five we may be in trouble. That’s unlikely for now, though, so feel confident in taking one of the best bets for today, the over on Adebayo’s 35.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists prop at -110 odds (22Bet).

• Bam Adebayo is averaging 28.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 5.5 assists in his last 2 games
• Miami is 2-5-1 ATS in their last 7 games
• The OVER has hit in 5 straight Miami games, going UNDER in the previous 4 in a row before that
• Miami is 4-7-1 ATS this season, 26th in the NBA
• Toronto is 4-9 ATS this season, last in the NBA