Phoenix Suns vs. Miami Heat Predictions, Picks, Odds

Michael Crosson Sports Betting Expert

4 minute read

Nationally televised NBA action will resume on Wednesday night with a heavyweight non-conference bout between the Phoenix Suns and Miami Heat. Coverage begins from FTX Arena at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.

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Score Prediction

Heat 116, Suns 112

Best Bets

Over 217.5 (-110) a BetMGM

Suns vs. Heat Predictions

After finishing sixth in the East with a record of 40-32 SU last year, Miami bounced back with an excellent start to this season, as the Heat opened with a sturdy 11-5 SU and 12-4 ATS stretch – with nine of those SU victories coming by 10+ PTS.

Aside from a brief nine-game mid-December lull though (3-6 SU, 2-7 ATS), the Heat have kept that same ball rolling through March too, considering Miami enters Wednesday riding an impressive 30-11 SU and 25-15-1 ATS stretch – despite getting tagged as underdogs in 14 of those contests.

On the other hand, Phoenix also stormed out to an excellent start to the season, as the Suns kicked things off with a sturdy 27-8 SU and 18-17 ATS run – with 18 of those victories coming by 10+ PTS.

Despite the absence of Chris Paul, Phoenix has carried that momentum all the way through the winter months too, considering the Suns boast records of 24-5 SU and 16-13 ATS across their last 29 games – while scoring 116.5 OPPG and allowing just 107.7 DPPG during that timeframe.

I’ll take the over here, as the Heat are 7-1 SU and 6-1-1 ATS in their last eight games, while scoring 115.6 OPPG and allowing just 106.3 DPPG during that span – setting the stage for a high-scoring battle against a Suns squad that’s averaging 114.6 OPPG across their latest 1-4 ATS skid.

Suns vs. Heat Betting Odds

More Odds | Futures Odds

Suns vs. Heat Betting Resources

• Matchup: Pacific vs. Southeast
• Date: Wednesday, March 9, 2022
• Venue: FTX Arena
• Location: Miami, FL
• TV-Time: ESPN - 7:30 p.m. ET
• Injury Report

Phoenix Suns Betting Analysis

• SU: 51-13
• ATS: 34-30
• O/U: 32-31-1

After battling Utah for the top spot in the conference all the way through the final day of last year’s regular season (51-21 SU), the Suns were surprisingly rusty out of the gate this season, as Phoenix dropped three of their first four games – while scoring just 106.3 OPPG across that window.

Devin Booker and company clearly just needed a few days to settle into a rhythm though, considering the Suns boast records of 49-10 SU and 32-27 ATS since their opening skid; now ranked fifth in the league in scoring and third in offensive efficiency (113.9 OPPG, 1.110 OE), and on the flipside, ranking seventh in points allowed and third in defensive efficiency (106.2 PPG, 1.035 DE).

Miami Heat Betting Analysis

• SU: 44-22
• ATS: 39-26-1
• O/U: 39-27

After last year’s relatively lackluster 40-32 SU showing, the Heat made some bold offseason moves to better suit their needs at the offensive end, which was primarily highlighted by the acquisition of six-time All-Star Kyle Lowry.

The move worked perfectly to start, as Miami kicked things off with an impressive 11-5 SU and 12-4 ATS stretch, with the Heat’s only ATS loses across that span coming in tough matchups against the Lakers, Clippers, Nuggets, and Celtics.

The depth that Miami sacrificed in order to acquire Lowry was briefly exposed in November, considering a revolving door of health and safety concerns spiraled Miami into a frustrating 3-6 SU and 2-7 ATS skid. Depth hasn’t been much of an issue recently though, considering the Heat enter Wednesday riding a sturdy 30-11 SU run.

Suns vs. Heat Head-to-Head

The Suns swept a two-game regular-season set against Miami last year, with both matchups staying under the total at an average of 201 PPG. The Heat are 1-0 SU against Phoenix this season though, which went over the number with a final score of 123-100.

Key Players to Watch

• PHX: Devin Booker - SG (25.6 PPG, 5.2 REB, 4.6 AST)
• PHX: Deandre Ayton - C (16.6 PPG, 9.7 REB, 1.4 AST)
• MIA: Jimmy Butler - SF (21.4 PPG, 6.2 REB, 5.7 AST)
• MIA: Bam Adebayo - C (18.8 PPG, 10.3 REB, 3.5 AST)

Suns vs. Heat Betting Conclusion

After posting back-to-back 17-point victories over the Sixer and Rockets, the Heat enter Wednesday’s contest as short home favorites over the Suns at FTX Arena – marking the third time Phoenix has been an underdog across their last six games.

I’ll take the over here, as the Suns enter Wednesday riding a bumpy 2-3 SU and 1-4 ATS stretch, while tallying 114.6 OPPG and allowing 114.2 DPPG across that window – setting the stage for a fast-paced back-and-forth battle against a Heat squad that’s averaging 115.6 OPPG across their latest 7-1 SU run.

Suns vs. Heat Betting Trends

• The Suns are 4-2 ATS in their last six matchups against Miami.
• The Heat are 5-0 ATS in their last five games.
• The total has gone OVER in seven of the last nine matchups between Phoenix and Miami.
• The Suns are 2-4 ATS in their last six games.

Michael Crosson

Michael Crosson began his time at VegasInsider as a freelance NBA writer back in 2019 while he continued to study Psychology and Biology at James Madison University. Following his graduation in 2021, Michael joined the team full-time, and he's been with VI ever since. Michael still writes NBA, NFL, and MLB for VI, as well as gambling industry news. He's also become a crucial part of our editorial production team. More from Michael Crosson