NBA Sunday Preview & Free Pick- Denver at Miami

Nuggets Chasing Portland For Playoffs

The Denver Nuggets and the Miami Heat kick off a Sunday double header of betting action on NBA TV in a 6 p.m. (ET) tip from American Airlines Arena. BetAnySports opened the Heat as 4.5-point home favorites with the total set at 214. The spread is now Miami -3.5-point favorites and the total has been bet up to 219.

Denver continues to chase down Portland for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference; however it has not helped its chances of closing the gap with a SU 2-5 record in its last seven games. One of those setbacks (122-113) came to the Trail Blazers on Tuesday night before dropping a 122-114 decision against Charlotte on Friday. The Nuggets closed as two-point road underdogs in both losses and the total at BetAnySports has gone OVER in five of their last six games.

This is one team that has never really struggled to put points on the board with seven different players averaging at least 10 points per game. Denver (35-40) is the third-highest scoring team in the NBA (111.5 PPG) behind Golden State and Houston, but it is allowing an average of 111.4 PPG on defense. With those last two road losses, the Nuggets have now given up 113 points or more in their last eight games.

Heat in Fierce Battle for Playoff Spot

Miami (37-39) is also fighting for its postseason life in the Eastern Conference, but it has not done itself any favors lately with a 3-4 mark both SU and ATS in its last seven games. Things went from bad to worse on Friday night with a stunning 98-94 loss to the short-handed New York Knicks as a 10.5-point home favorite with BetAnySports. The Heat remain one of the most profitable betting teams this season at 46-30 ATS.

Goran Dragic leads Miami in scoring this season with 20.1 PPG and he ended Friday’s loss with a team-high 22 points. Hassan Whiteside added 17 points to the losing cause as the Heat went a dismal 24.2 percent from three-point range after missing 15 of their last 16 attempts. The one thing that Miami does have going for it in this matchup is a shutdown defense that is ranked fifth in the league in points allowed (101.8).

Both these teams are trying to play their way out of the postseason lately, but when it comes to betting on Sunday’s matchup, I like Miami’s chances at home to bounce back with a SU win that covers BetAnySports’ spread.