Pro Hoops on Sunday and we will see the Miami Heat travel to the Lone Star State to take on the San Antonio Spurs. The game is scheduled for a 7:05 pm (Eastern) start time and will be televised on NBATV. Currently the Odds for the game have San Antonio favored by 1.5 points while the total sits at 198.
Analysis: Miami's 27-game win streak ended on Wednesday night, but the team bounced back with a resounding 108-89 thumping at New Orleans on Friday. The Heat shot 61% from the floor (52% threes) in that win over the Hornets, increasing their offensive numbers to 104.8 PPG, 52% FG and 45% threes over the past nine games. Miami leads the Eastern Conference with 103.5 PPG, paces the entire league with a 49.4 FG clip and ranks second in the NBA in long-range shooting (39.3% threes). This team is also strong on the defensive end, holding teams to 95.5 PPG (7th in NBA) and 44.1% FG (8th in league) on 35.0% threes (10th in NBA). Forward LeBron James put his outside shooting on display in the victory over New Orleans, knocking down seven 3-pointers – one shy of his career high. James made six consecutive 3-pointers in the first half and finished 7-of-10 from behind the arc while scoring 36 points. James (26.9 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 7.3 APG) continues to be the best player on the planet, scoring at least 22 points in each of his past 10 games, where he's averaged 29.2 PPG (56% FG, 43% threes), 8.4 RPG and 8.3 APG. His numbers are similar when facing the Spurs in his career, where he's averaged 27.9 PPG (51% FG), 7.1 RPG and 6.4 APG in 17 games. SG Dwyane Wade (21.3 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 5.0 APG) has also enjoyed facing the Spurs with 24.9 PPG, 5.9 APG and 4.9 RPG, but he's also committed a troubling 4.4 TOPG in 14 career games against them. Wade has scored in double-figures in 58 straight games, but is averaging just 16.2 PPG, despite 48% FG, over his past five contests, failing to score 20 in any of these games. Miami is 2-22 when playing in San Antonio.
San Antonio's 104-102 win over the Clippers on Friday made the team 10-3 SU in the month of March, but the non-cover saddles the club with a 1-7 ATS record in its past eight contests. San Antonio ranks fourth in the league with 104.3 PPG on a hefty 48.7% FG (2nd in NBA) and 38.3% threes (3rd in league), set up by an NBA-best 25.2 APG. The Spurs also rank among the top defenses in the league in all three categories, allowing 96.5 PPG (11th in NBA), 44.2% FG (9th in league) and 34.1% threes (6th in NBA). The one area of weakness for this club is rebounding, as it ranks 22nd in total rebounds (40.9 RPG) and 19th in rebounding margin (minus-1.3 RPG). PG Tony Parker (21.0 PPG, 7.6 APG) has been incredible after missing eight games with a sprained ankle, averaging 21.8 PPG (53% FG) and 7.8 APG in four games since returning. He's also been solid against the Heat in his career, averaging 15.5 PPG on 52% FG with 5.6 APG in 19 meetings. PF Tim Duncan (17.6 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 2.7 BPG) has been playing outstanding basketball in his past six games with 24.7 PPG, 12.2 RPG and 3.3 BPG. He is coming off a 34-point explosion in Friday's win over the Clippers, and has averaged 18.9 PPG and 11.6 RPG in 25 career games versus the Heat. The Spurs are 12-1 SU (9-3-1 ATS) when hosting the Heat since 1997, crushing them 125-95 the last time they met at AT&T Center on March 4, 2011.
Pick: Gonna go right to the big one and normally in big games you tend to see a lower scoring game. That hasn't happened that much in this series of late, but I feel it will today and it all starts with defense. Miami has struggled some with their defense in the first half of games, but this team has made the Adjustments and have been light's out at the end of the floor in the second half. Overall the heat are 7th in points allowed (95.5 ppg), while allowing just 94.9 ppg on the road. Granted the Spurs average 105.6 ppg at home, but not today as this Heat defense is just too locked in. The Heat average 99.4 ppg on the road, but I don't see them putting that up here vs a Spurs team that allows just 94.2 ppg on their home floor. We know that these teams have the ability to score a ton, but defense will win this game and that has me expecting no more than 190 points.
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NBA Free Picks: Miami Heat at San Antonio Spurs Betting
What pro basketball bettors need to know about Miami Heat at San Antonio Spurs on Sunday (3/31/13) - a free pick from Pregame.com's Ken Thomson, with host Marco D'Angelo.