Today, the Miami Heat are in serious danger after losing Jimmy Butler, Tyler Herro, and Bam Adebayo… 
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After splitting their last 2 games with the Chicago Bulls, the Miami Heat have now won 8 of 9 games and look like the team to beat in the Eastern Conference. Bam Adebayo has elevated his game on both ends, recording at least 20 points and 10 rebounds in 7 of his last 8 games. Although he is listed on the injury report as a game-time decision with a hip problem, I expect him to gut it out and cause havoc on the interior. Miami has enjoyed a lot of success in head-to-head games, winning 14 of the last 19, while covering the spread 14 times in the last 20 meetings. Unlike the Cavs, who just played last night in Philadelphia, the Heat will be well rested.
The Cavs are also on a solid run with 4 straight wins, but they needed an OT period to beat the 76ers on the road last night. That is bad news for an already injury-depleted roster, considering Evan Mobley, Darius Garland and Max Strus logged 38, 43 and 44 minutes respectively. Donovan Mitchell has been out for a while now with a hamstring injury, and coming back from an injury like that you’re always extra cautious, so even if he does play, going up against Jimmy Butler won’t be ideal for him. Cleveland enters the game having covered the spread only twice in the last 10 games against Eastern Conference opponents. Fatigue will be a factor, but even if it wasn’t I still rate the Heat as the better team overall. The Cavs give up the 8th-most rebounds per game this season (53.3), so I’m looking for Bam to assert himself down low. I’ll take Miami to win outright.
Heat ML (-135) available at time of publishing.
