Heat vs. Raptors Predictions, Odds, Preview

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

7 minute read

Jan. 20, 2021

By Jonathan Willis

VegasInsider.com

It’s been a rough start to the season for both the Miami Heat and the Toronto Raptors. The last two Eastern Conference champions are each multiple games under .500, and the only teams they have more wins than are Washington and Detroit.

This will be the first of a back-to-back series the Raptors are “hosting” in Tampa.

Heat vs. Raptors Betting Resources

Matchup: Eastern Conference
Expert Picks: Vegas Insiders
Venue: Amalie Arena
Location: Tampa, Florida
Date: Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021
Time: 7:35 p.m. ET
TV: NBA League Pass
Bet: BetMGM | BetRivers | FanDuel | PointsBet | All

Betting Odds - Miami Heat vs. Toronto Raptors

Line Movements

Subject to Change

Spread: Raptors -3.5
Money-Line: Raptors -175 Heat +155
Total: 220

The Miami Heat have struggled on the road this season, going 1-4 both SU and ATS this season. (AP)

Heat vs. Raptors Current Form-Last Game

Toronto performed like one of the worst teams in the NBA through the first ten games of the season. The Raptors won just two of their first ten games, putting them in a hole. However, they have turned it on over the last week as their travel schedule hasn’t been as hectic.

The Raptors have won four of their last six games and three in a row. Those two losses were each by a single point on the road against Golden State and Portland, showcasing this team has even been competitive in defeat.

They hammered the Dallas Mavericks 116-93 on Monday night in Tampa. Tim Hardaway, Jr. failed to score a single point despite taking 12 shots, and the Mavericks shot just 37.8 percent from the floor and 25 percent from beyond the arc. Chris Boucher and Kyle Lowry were extremely efficient, leading the Raptors with 21 and 23 points respectively.

Miami alternated wins and losses through its first eight games until a COVID outbreak in the team led to the Heat cancelling their game against Boston back on January 10.

They have not performed as well since that point, losing three of their last four clashes as Jimmy Butler and Avery Bradley both are assumed to have contracted the virus due to their designation.

Contact tracing led Bam Adebayo and others to be sidelined for the team’s two games against Philadelphia, but they returned to the court against Detroit.

The Heat were hammered by the Pistons on Saturday, getting outscored by 24 points in the second half. They put a stop to their three-game skid on Monday though, surviving a tough first quarter to pick up a 113-107 win against the 3-10 Pistons.

Adebayo and Goran Dragic led the way by going 9 of 15 from the floor, while Kendrick Nunn provided 18 points off the bench as a super sub.

Heat vs. Raptors Head-to-Head

Aug. 3, 2020 - Raptors 107 at Heat 103, Toronto -2.5, Under 222
Jan. 2, 2020 - Heat 84 vs. Raptors 76, Miami -5.5, Under 214
Dec. 3, 2019 - Heat 121 at Raptors 110, Miami +5.5, Over 212

(SU-Straight Up, ATS - Against the Spread, OU - Over-Under)

Miami Heat Betting Outlook

Inside the Stats (2020-2021)

Overall: 5-7 SU, 4-7-1 ATS, 7-5 OU
Road: 1-4 SU, 1-4 ATS, 4-1 OU

Miami is still short-handed coming into Wednesday night’s game. Butler and Bradley are expected to be in COVID protocol for at least a few more days, and Tyler Herro and Meyers Leonard are dealing with injury issues.

That will make Adebayo the primary scoring option. The young center has flourished despite the increased attention to this point. He leads the Heat with 19.5 PPG and 9.0 RPG, knocking down 64.5 percent of his field goals.

Adebayo isn’t a big man that will stretch the floor, but he is a matchup problem for most teams as the league has moved away from powerful frontcourt players.

Dragic has only started one game this season. He has been coming off the bench to provide a spark, and he is fourth on the team in scoring with 15.2 PPG. Dragic is making over 50 percent of his field goals, but he is only an average three-point shooter.

The potential absence of Herro means Duncan Robinson will have a larger role. Robinson is the best three-point shooter on the Heat, sinking 44.7 percent of his threes. He isn’t much of a contributor outside of his shooting, so he needs to be accurate from range on Wednesday night.

Toronto Raptors Betting Outlook

Inside the Stats (2020-2021)

Overall: 5-8 SU, 4-9 ATS, 7-6 OU
Home: 4-2 SU, 2-4 ATS, 3-3 OU

This is a well-rounded team. Toronto has one of the best all-around starting fives in the league.

Lowry is the veteran leader of the group. Lowry leads the team with 19.1 PPG while hitting 44.8 percent of his field goals and 38.7 percent of his threes. He is the team’s best distributor with 7.1 APG, and he is a huge part of why the Raptors lead the league in fast-break points (17.1 PPG).

Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet are quality set-up men too. VanVleet is just behind Lowry in points (19.0 PPG) and assists (6.3 APG), and he does it despite committing half as many turnovers.

Siakam is one of the best defenders in the league. He is third on the team in scoring (18.9 PPG), and he doles out 4.9 APG while leading the team with 7.8 RPG. However, he has been an abysmal three-point shooter through 12 games, making just 26.3 percent of his threes.

Boucher has been a difference maker. Toronto once again struck gold with the former Oregon standout. He was the G League MVP and Defensive Player of the Year during the 2018-19 season, and Boucher became a big contributor for the Raptors last year.

His development has continued as he leads Toronto with a 29.84 PER, breaking out as a two-way player by averaging 16.1 PPG while shooting over 60 percent from the floor and 46.9 percent from downtown.

Key Injuries

Miami Heat

SG Jimmy Butler: Quarantine - Out
PF Meyers Leonard: Shoulder - Out
SG Tyler Herro: Neck - Questionable

Toronto Raptors

None

Toronto is relatively healthy after waiving Alex Len, but Miami is dealing with injuries and illnesses to two of its best players.

The absence of Herro and Butler will limit the Heat on the offensive end, and role players are going to have to play big minutes.