NBA Parlay Picks – Wizards Looking for Revenge versus Surprising Heat

Washington Wizards (+7) at Miami Heat (-7)
O/U 186
Miami, FL - 7:30 PM ET

The Washington Wizards (2-5 SU, 2-5 ATS, 1-6 O/U) were being hyped up as a team to watch in the Eastern Conference this season, but it is the Miami Heat (5-1 SU, 5-1 ATS, 1-5 O/U) that have taken center stage and grabbed everyone’s attention with their strong start this season.

After adding head coach Flip Saunders and gifted offensive performers Randy Foye and Mike Miller to a cast that already included three all-star caliber players in Gilbert Arenas, Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison, the Wizards were expected to make some noise in the East this season.

However, the Wiz have struggled mightily coming into tonight’s contest, losing four straight games while failing to cover the spread for NBA pro basketball bettors each time out.

The Heat, have far surpassed most pro hoops experts’ expectations so far, getting off to a blazing 5-1 start that has been fueled by a fantastic defense that has routinely shut down its opponents through six games.

Miami is getting its usual contributions from superstar shooting guard Dwyane Wade (28.0 ppg) but has really succeeded because of the all-around contributions of their complimentary players as four other Heat players are averaging double figures in scoring and two more players are putting up just under 10 points per contest.

Here is a look at some of the Key Trends for NBA Southeast Division Showdown.

Key Trends

• Wizards are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 road games.
• Wizards are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games overall.
• Heat are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 vs. Eastern Conference.
• Heat are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games.
• Wizards are 7-2 ATS in the last 9 meetings in Miami.
• Road team is 20-5-2 ATS in the last 27 meetings.
• Wizards are 0-6 ATS in the last 6 meetings.
• Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.
• Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in Miami.

Here’s the scoop on tonight’s matchup.

Miami

The Heat are off to their best start in decade, thanks in large part to the fact that they are holding opponents to a league-low 41.6 percent from the field while allowing just 90.7 points per contest (sixth).

Miami beat a solid Denver 96-88 on Friday, to cover the NBA point spread as 1-point home underdogs and also beat Washington last Wednesday, winning 93-89 to cash in as 2-poinr road dogs behind Dwyane Wade’s 40-point night.

Washington

The Wiz got off to an encouraging 2-1 start this season but have been held under 40 percent shooting from the field in each of their four consecutive losses coming into tonight’s contest while turning the ball over like it’s going out of style.

Washington has seen injuries hamper their development as Jamison has been out since the start of the season and Mike Miller recently hit the shelf, both with shoulder injuries.

Analysis: The Wizards have lost five consecutive games to Miami and haven’t topped the 90-point plateau in each of their last four games, making the Miami Heat my pick to win this contest and cover the NBA point spread with their newfound penchant for playing smothering defense.