Free NBA Picks Today: Phoenix Suns vs Miami Heat 1/6/23

The Phoenix Suns (20-19, 14-5 Home) will try to overcome one of the league’s top scoring defenses when they welcome the Miami Heat (20-19, 9-11 Away) on Friday. Miami was edged out by the Los Angeles Lakers 112-109 at Crypto.com Arena on Wednesday.

Bam Adebayo had a standout performance in defeat with 30 points, 13 rebounds, three assists, and three blocks. The Heat are the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. Phoenix lost their fourth in a row in a close one on Wednesday at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, falling to the Cleveland Cavaliers 90-88.

Chris Paul had 25 points and eight assists in the loss, leading the team. The Suns are eighth in the Western Conference. The teams are meeting for the last time this season. Miami will be aiming for a season sweep against Phoenix after coming out on top in the only previous game 113-112 at FTX Arena in November 2022.

Adebayo led the Heat with 30 points and 10 rebounds. Devin Booker had 25 points and eight rebounds in the loss. The Heat have been led this season by Adebayo and Tyler Herro, who are averaging 21.8 and 21.1 points per game, respectively. Adebayo also has grabbed 9.9 rebounds per game.

Meanwhile, Kyle Lowry is dishing 5.7 assists per game. Booker’s 27.1 points per game have powered the Suns on offense. Booker also has doled out 5.6 assists per game. Deandre Ayton has collected 9.4 rebounds per game.

Holding opponents to 109.5 points per game, the Heat are one of the best scoring defenses in the NBA (4th). In the last 10 trips to Footprint Center, the Heat are a dominant 8-2. Miami is 6-4 in the last 10 games with an average margin of +2.2 (112.2-110.0). Phoenix has gone 3-7 over the last 10, allowing 112.4 points per game on average while scoring only 108.5 (-3.9 margin).

HEAT HOT/COLD

(Last Five | Season Average | Differential)
Points + Rebounds + Assists:
Victor Oladipo: 22.0 | 16.4 | +5.6
Kyle Lowry: 12.3 | 23.6 | -11.4
Points per game:
Bam Adebayo: 27.6 | 21.8 | +5.8
Kyle Lowry: 6.3 | 13.4 | -7.2
Rebounds per game:
Jimmy Butler: 4.3 | 6.4 | -2.1
Assists per game:
Kyle Lowry: 3.8 | 5.7 | -2.0

SUNS HOT/COLD

(Last Five | Season Average | Differential)
Points + Rebounds + Assists:
Landry Shamet: 17.0 | 13.0 | +4.0
Cameron Payne: 10.5 | 19.7 | -9.2
Points per game:
Chris Paul: 18.0 | 13.4 | +4.6
Cameron Payne: 5.0 | 12.1 | -7.1