On Nov. 16, the Miami Heat were 8-4 and in third place in the Eastern Conference standings, while the Los Angeles Clippers – two weeks after the trade that landed them James Harden – were languishing at 3-7, a game out of last place in the West.
Oh, what a difference two and a half months make in the NBA.
Going into their matchup with the Heat on Sunday night, the Clippers (32-15) sit just a game back of first place in the Western Conference, while the Heat (26-23) are in seventh place in the East.
Los Angeles will play its sixth game of a seven-game road trip on Sunday night in South Beach. The Clippers are looking to win their fifth game on the trip, with their one defeat coming at Cleveland. Their most impressive win was a 115-96 blowout of Boston as seven-point underdogs.
Meanwhile, the Heat are seeking a third straight win after losing seven straight, the most consecutive losses for the franchise in the last 15 years. They shook up the roster in the middle of the losing streak, acquiring point guard Terry Rozier in a trade.
Brought in to take the scoring load off Jimmy Butler, Rozier is starting to look more comfortable with Miami and was a big part of the team’s last two victories. He is averaging 10.8 points, 5.5 assists and 4.3 rebounds in six games since the trade.
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
| Clippers -3.5 (-114) | Over 226 (-110) | Clippers -162 |
| Heat +3.5 (-106) | Under 226 (-110) | Heat +136 |
In the first matchup this season between the Clippers and Heat, L.A. won at home on New Year’s Day, 121-104, as eight-point favorites. Miami led by 12 points after the first quarter, but the Clippers outscored the Heat by 29 points the rest of the way. Butler sat out that loss for the Heat, while Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers with 24 points.
The Clippers could be getting center Ivica Zubac back on Sunday. He has missed three weeks with an ankle injury, and Mason Plumlee has been starting in Zubac’s absence, with Daniel Thies getting backup minutes at center.
Meanwhile, the Heat will be without Duncan Robinson for the third straight game as he recovers from a concussion.
Miami has compiled a dreadful 0-5 record straight-up and against the spread as a home underdog this season, with four of those losses coming by seven points or more. Overall, the Heat have been dreadful against the spread at home, going 9-15 (37.5%) at Kaseya Center.
In contrast, the Clippers have covered in eight of their last 12 opportunities as road favorites, although they failed to cash in Friday’s win as heavy chalk at Detroit.
Let’s back the Clippers on the road to cool off the Heat on Sunday.
Pick: Clippers -3.5 (-110 at BetMGM)