MIAMI vs PHOENIX 12/7/2018 Odds, Picks & Preview

The MIAMI and the PHOENIX will both be gunning for a victory on 12/7/2018 at 9:05 PM when they meet in a game matchup.

MIAMI HEAT vs PHOENIX SUNS
When: 9:00 PM  ET, Friday, December 7, 2018
Where: Talking Stick Resort Arena, Phoenix, Arizona

TV: 9:05 PM
LINE:
PREDICTION: PHOENIX , MIAMI

Oddsmakers currently have the PHOENIX listed as 7.5 point favorites versus the MIAMI, while the game’s total is sitting at 209.5.

The Miami Heat have picked the right place to open a six-game road trip as they square off with the Phoenix Suns on Friday. Miami has prevailed in 15 of its last 16 meetings with the Suns, who enter the contest with a seven-game losing streak that matches its worst of the season.

The Heat are a disappointing five games below .500 and have lost nine of their last 13, and veteran guard Dwyane Wade views the lengthy trek as a pivotal time for the team. “We’re just trying to find our identity, and we’re having our ups and downs throughout the year,” Wade told reporters. “To go on a long road trip, it can make you or break you, or it’ll pull you together. We’re hoping that on this road trip, we’ll be able to play some good basketball, put some good games together, come out of this trip even more confident.” The Suns own the worst record in the NBA as Thursday’s 108-86 loss to Portland was their sixth by double digits during the seven-game slide. Phoenix scored just nine first-quarter points for the second straight game and has lost by an average of 15.6 points during its skid.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, FS Sun (Miami), FS Arizona (Phoenix)

ABOUT THE HEAT (9-14): Goran Dragic (knee) has practiced with the team on back-to-back days and could be set to return after missing the last eight games. “He’s doing a lot better,” coach Erik Spoelstra told reporters after Thursday night’s practice in Phoenix. “He’s making progress. We’re really excited about his last week of work.” The All-Star is averaging just 16.3 points in 12 games this season but has been greatly hindered by the sore right knee, which was drained of fluid 2 1/2 weeks ago.

ABOUT THE SUNS (4-21): Phoenix will be without Devin Booker (hamstring) for the third straight game and T.J. Warren (ankle) for a fifth consecutive contest, and the team is having trouble competing without them. The Suns were manhandled by Portland and trailed by 25 points after the opening quarter, but coach Igor Kokoskov isn’t interested in excuses. “We are missing Book, we are missing T.J. Warren, this is a challenging time for us as a team,” Kokoskov told reporters after the loss. “We are starting a young group, three rookies in the starting lineup. This is the NBA. Nobody asks you who you are starting. Put five people on the court and compete and play.”

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Heat averaged 125.5 points in last season’s two victories over the Suns.

2. Phoenix F Richaun Holmes is 45-for-64 over his last 11 games and shooting 64.9 percent for the season.

3. Miami C Hassan Whiteside didn’t travel with the team due to the expected birth of his child and SG Wayne Ellington (personal reasons) also didn’t board the team plane.

PREDICTION: Heat 115, Suns 103

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