Heat vs. Lakers Prediction, Odds & Best Bet for December 28 (Defense Takes Backseat in Miami-Los Angeles Showdown)

Heat vs. Lakers Game Info

• Date: Wednesday, December 28, 2022
• Time: 7:30 PM ET
• Venue: FTX Arena -- Miami, Florida
• Coverage: NBA TV, BSSUN, and SportsNet LA

The NBA has eight games scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 28, including an inter-conference battle between the Miami Heat (17-17) and Los Angeles Lakers (14-20).

The Heat have a bit of momentum on their side, tallying a 113-110 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday. Meanwhile, the Lakers' four-game losing streak came to an end on Tuesday as they defeated the Orlando Magic, 129-110, behind LeBron James' 28-point night.

Can the Heat keep the ball rolling at home? Or do the Lakers have it in them to continue winning without Anthony Davis?

Heat vs. Lakers Odds & Spread

Heat vs Lakers Betting Information

Favorite	Spread	Favorite Spread Odds	Underdog Spread Odds	Total	Over Total Odds	Under Total Odds	Favorite Moneyline	Underdog Moneyline
Heat	-7	-	-	226	-110	-110	-295	240

• All NBA betting lines, odds and prop bets are from FanDuel Sportsbook.
• Moneyline: LAL: (+260) | MIA: (-320)
• Spread: LAL: +8 (-110) | MIA: -8 (-110)
• Total: 226.5 -- Over: (-110) | Under: (-110)

The Heat enter this contest as clear home favorites on the moneyline and spread per FanDuel Sportsbook's odds. This 7:30 p.m. ET clash also features an over/under of 226.5 points, which is among the lowest of Wednesday's totals.

Heat vs. Lakers Betting Trends

• The Heat covered 45 times in 82 chances against the spread last season.
• As 7-point underdogs or greater, the Lakers went 7-6 against the spread last season.
• A total of 46 Heat games last season hit the over.
• In 82 Lakers games last year, 47 of them went over the total.

Heat vs. Lakers Prediction & Pick

There's little to like about this version of the Lakers — especially if LeBron James sits out of tonight's game. The multi-time MVP told reporters after last night's loss that he'll "know [Wednesday]" if he feels good enough to face the Heat. Considering how he's missed all but one of LA's four back-to-back games thus far, there's a good chance that he's out again tonight.

On top of that, the Heat have been getting the better of the Lakers lately, winning five of the last eight meetings. Los Angeles has lost back-to-back games at FTX Arena, averaging just 105.5 points in defeat.

What's worse is that the Lakers have lost six of their last eight road games this season with their only wins in that span coming against the Magic and Pistons, who have a combined winning percentage of just 29.6%.

Unless LeBron plays and has his best performance of the season, the Heat should win this without much issue.

Final Score Prediction: Heat: 119 | Lakers: 110

Heat vs. Lakers Best Bet

As far as the best bet goes, I have my eyes on the over. The Lakers give up a lot of points this season (117.8 PPG, No. 27), leading to the total going over in each of their last five games, as well as in each of their last seven on the road. On top of that, the over is 4-2 in the last six Heat-Lakers matchups.

With key defensive players like LeBron and Bam Adebayo (illness) potentially missing tonight's contest, look for more points to be scored than projected.

Bet: Over 226.5 (-110)

Watch FanDuel TV’s new NBA show “Run It Back” with Shams Charania, Michelle Beadle, Chandler Parsons, and Eddie Gonzalez Monday-Wednesday at 10 ET on FanDuel TV, the FanDuel Youtube page, or download the podcast here: fanduel.com/podcasts.

Devon Platana is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Devon Platana also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username PepeSilvia0. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.