Raptors vs. Heat odds, line, spread: 2020 NBA picks, Aug. 3 predictions from model on 54-32 roll
The defending-champion Toronto Raptors posted a big victory in their first game since the NBA halted operations due to the coronavirus pandemic. They're hoping to record another when they take on the Miami Heat on Monday afternoon at the HP Field House in Bay Lake, Fla. The Raptors (47-18) picked up right where they left off with a 107-92 triumph over the Western Conference-leading Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday in their first contest since March 9, when they topped Utah for their fourth straight win.
Miami (42-24), which won both of its previous meetings with Toronto this season, also was victorious in its return Saturday as it defeated Denver 125-105 after trailing at halftime. Tip-off from the Orlando bubble is at 1:30 p.m. ET. William Hill lists Toronto as a 3.5-point favorite. The over-under is 221 in the latest Raptors vs. Heat odds. Before making any Raptors vs. Heat picks, check out the latest NBA predictions from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times, and it's already returned well over $4,200 in profit on its top-rated NBA picks this season. It entered the week on a blistering 54-32 run on top-rated NBA spread picks, returning almost $1,900 on those picks alone. Anybody who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Raptors vs. Heat. You can visit SportsLine now to see the picks. Here are the NBA odds and trends for Heat vs. Raptors:
• TOR: The Raptors entered Sunday second in the NBA in steals (8.8)
• MIA: The Heat lead the league in 3-point percentage (38.4)
Why the Raptors can cover
Toronto may have lost Kawhi Leonard to free agency following its championship win, but it remains a top team as it occupies second place in the Eastern Conference and has a pair of players averaging at least 20 points. Pascal Siakam leads the Raptors at 23.5 while Kyle Lowry is at 20 after his 33-point effort against the Lakers on Saturday. The 34-year-old point guard also grabbed 14 rebounds and dished out six assists to increase his team-high average to 7.6.
OG Anunoby is averaging only 10.9 points in 2019-20, but he came up with one of his best performances of the season on Saturday. The 23-year-old small forward poured in 23 points versus Los Angeles, marking the sixth time this campaign he's eclipsed the 20-point plateau. Anunoby has had a big part in helping Toronto become one of the top teams in steals, as he is second on the squad with a 1.4 average and has recorded two or more in six of his last eight games.
Why the Heat can cover
It took Miami a half to find its footing Saturday as it erased a one-point deficit at intermission by outscoring the Nuggets 38-22 in the third quarter. Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler each contributed 22 points as the Heat shot 55.6 percent in the contest. Butler leads the Heat in scoring at 20.3 points but had reached 20 only twice in nine games after the All-Star break prior to Saturday's effort.
Kelly Olynyk had a huge game against Denver as he scored a season-high 20 points -- all in the fourth quarter. The 29-year-old backup power forward, who is averaging 7.9 points this season, was 8-of-11 from the field and made four of his six 3-point attempts. Olynyk put himself in elite company as he joined Dwyane Wade as the only players in franchise history to record at least 20 points in a fourth quarter.
How to make Raptors vs. Heat picks
SportsLine's model is leaning under the total, as only one player is projected to reach the 20-point plateau in the simulation. The model also says one side of the spread hits in over 50 percent of simulations. You can only get the pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Heat vs. Raptors? And which side of the spread cashes in over 50 percent of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Raptors vs. Heat spread to jump on Monday, all from the advanced model that is up over $4,200 on its NBA picks this season, and find out.
