The Miami Heat will face the Charlotte Hornets in a do-or-die encounter on Tuesday. Miami, 10th in the standings after the regular season ended, hopes to survive on the road for another shot at the playoffs. The Heat, a team that has significant play-in tournament experience, hopes to use that to its advantage to pull off an upset.
Meanwhile, the Hornets, who have not reached the postseason in a decade, look to take another step toward ending that drought. One of the hottest teams in the NBA since March, the hosts will lean on their young core to keep their season alive.
Miami Heat vs Charlotte Hornets Odds
Moneyline: Heat (+184) vs. Hornets (-220)
Odds: Heat (+5.5 -110) vs. Hornets (-110)
Total (O/U): Heat (o228.5 -112) vs. Heat (u228.5 -111)
Editor’s Note: The odds could change closer to the game.
Miami Heat vs Charlotte Hornets Injury Reports
Heat Injury Report
Only Dru Smith (foot) and Nikola Jovic (ankle) are on the inactive list for the Heat. Andrew Wiggins (toe), Tyler Herro (foot) and Simone Fontecchio (ankle) have all been cleared to play. However, versatile forward Pelle Larsson is questionable due to a right lower leg contusion.
Hornets Injury Report
PJ Hall remains out for the Hornets due to an ankle injury. He isn’t expected to play until next season.
Miami Heat vs Charlotte Hornets Starting Lineups
Heat
PG: Tyler Herro | PG: Davion Mitchell | SF: Andrew Wiggins | PF: Bam Adebayo | C: Kel’el Ware
Hornets
PG: LaMelo Ball | SG: Kon Knueppel | SF: Brandon Miller | PF: Miles Bridges | C: Moussa Diabate
Miami Heat vs Charlotte Hornets Prediction
The Hornets dominated the Heat in the regular season, winning three of four head-to-head games. Charlotte posted a 17.6 average winning margin in shellacking Miami.
The do-or-die encounter could be a different story because of Miami’s edge in playoff experience. Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro and Andrew Wiggins all have big-game experience.
Still, Charlotte has been playing better than Miami for most of the season. The Hornets’ home-court advantage could come into play for a fan base that’s hungry for meaningful games past the regular season.
Expect the Hornets to keep their season alive, but allow the Heat to cover the +5.5 spread.
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