Heat vs. Hornets prediction and odds for Monday, Dec. 11 (Bet the Under)
By Jovan Alford
The Charlotte Hornets will try to win their second straight game at home against the Miami Heat on Monday night. Tonight's contest is the first game of a home-and-home as these two teams will play each other again on Wednesday night in Miami.
The Hornets opened as 3.5-point home underdogs against the Heat, but that number has moved to 4.5. These two Southeast division rivals played each other in November, where the Hornets lost 111-105 at home. P.J. Washington led the way for Charlotte with 32 points (12-23 FG, 6-11 3pt) and six rebounds.
The Hornets will need another big performance from Washington and others as the team is without star point guard LaMelo Ball for the foreseeable future because of a right ankle sprain.
Here are the odds and our best bet for Miami-Charlotte:
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Heat vs. Hornets odds, spread and total
Heat vs. Hornets how to watch
- Date: Monday, Dec. 6
- Game Time: 7:00 p.m. EST
- Venue: Spectrum Center
- How to Watch (TV): Bally Sports SE-CHA, Bally Sports Sun
- Heat Record: 12-10
- Hornets Record: 7-13
Heat vs. Hornets injury reports
Miami Heat injury report
- Tyler Herro – out
- Haywood Highsmith – out
- Bam Adebayo – out
Charlotte Hornets injury report
- LaMelo Ball – out
- Cody Martin – out
- Frank Ntilikina – out
- Nick Smith Jr. – doubtful
- Mark Williams – doubtful
Heat vs. Hornets key players to watch
Miami Heat
Jimmy Butler: When these two teams played each other in November, Butler scored 32 points in a five-point win for the Heat. The veteran forward shot an efficient 10-of-14 from the field and went to the free-throw line 14 times. Miami will look for a similar performance tonight, as they’re still without Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro. In Miami’s last three games, Butler is averaging 22.7 points, five assists, and four rebounds per game.
Charlotte Hornets
Brandon Miller: The No. 2 overall pick from this summer’s NBA draft is quietly having a solid season for the Hornets. Miller is averaging 14.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game. He’s also shooting 44.8% from the field and 40.5% from beyond the arc (4.7 three-point attempts per game).
Miller is coming off his second 20-point effort in the past five games as he dropped 20 points (7-15 FG, 4-7 3pt), five rebounds, and three assists in the Hornets’ three-point win over the Raptors last Friday.
Heat vs. Hornets prediction and pick
Even though the Hornets are without LaMelo Ball, they still have enough offense to scare the Heat, who will go to battle without Herro and Adebayo. The Hornets came up short in their first matchup as the Heat forced Charlotte into 18 turnovers, which turned into 23 points. Miami also had more fastbreak points (13-2) and points in the paint (54-40).
The Hornets are ranked 17th in turnovers per game (14.2) but have only allowed 13.7 turnovers per game in their last three games. Meanwhile, the Heat are ranked top-sixth in turnovers (13.0) and seventh in opponent turnovers per game (15.2).
Miami has won three out of their last five on the road but are 2-3 without Adebayo and Herro this season. The Heat are 3-2 against the spread as a road favorite, while the Hornets are 4-4 ATS as home underdogs this season.
Nevertheless, I’ll take the UNDER on the total. In the first matchup in November, both teams were healthy for the most part and only scored 216 points. However, with no Ball, Herro, and Adebayo tonight, I don’t see the total going higher than 222.5
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.