Free NBA Picks Today: Los Angeles Lakers vs Miami Heat 1/4/23

The Los Angeles Lakers (16-21, 8-8 Home) will try to overcome one of the NBA’s top scoring defenses when they welcome the Miami Heat (20-18, 9-10 Away) on Wednesday. Miami beat the Los Angeles Clippers 110-100 at Crypto.com Arena on Monday. With 31 points and 13 rebounds, Bam Adebayo led the way. The Heat are the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference.

Los Angeles emerged victorious on Monday at Spectrum Center, beating the Charlotte Hornets 121-115. LeBron James had 43 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists, carrying the team. The Lakers are 12th in the Western Conference. The teams are meeting for the last time this season.

Miami will be pursuing a season sweep against Los Angeles after triumphing in the only previous matchup 112-98 at FTX Arena on Wednesday. Jimmy Butler led the Heat with 27 points and six steals. James had 27 points, nine rebounds, and six assists in the loss.

The Heat have been led this season by Adebayo and Tyler Herro, who are averaging 21.5 and 21.5 points per game, respectively. Adebayo also has grabbed 9.9 rebounds per game. Meanwhile, Kyle Lowry is dishing 5.8 assists per game. James’ 29.0 points per game have powered the Lakers on offense.

He has the ninth-best scoring average in the NBA. James also has posted 8.2 rebounds per game. Russell Westbrook has tallied 7.6 assists per game. The Heat rank as one of the best scoring defenses in the league, third-best with 109.4 points per game allowed.

The teams have split their last 10 meetings at Crypto.com Arena (5-5).In the last 10 games, Miami is 7-3 with an average margin of +2.7 (112.3-109.6). Los Angeles has split the last 10 (5-5), allowing 120.5 points per game on average while scoring only 119.2 (-1.3 margin).

HEAT HOT/COLD

(Last Five | Season Average | Differential)
Points + Rebounds + Assists:
Kyle Lowry: 16.0 | 23.8 | -7.8
Points per game:
Bam Adebayo: 27.0 | 21.5 | +5.5
Kyle Lowry: 8.0 | 13.5 | -5.5
Rebounds per game:
Jimmy Butler: 4.3 | 6.5 | -2.1

LAKERS HOT/COLD

(Last Five | Season Average | Differential)
Points + Rebounds + Assists:
Thomas Bryant: 27.2 | 19.1 | +8.1
Lonnie Walker IV: 8.3 | 18.4 | -10.1
Points per game:
LeBron James: 36.6 | 29.0 | +7.6
Lonnie Walker IV: 6.3 | 14.7 | -8.3
Rebounds per game:
Thomas Bryant: 10.6 | 6.5 | +4.1