Indiana Pacers vs Miami Heat Picks and Predictions November 15th 2024

Pacers vs Heat November 15th 2024

At 7:00 ET, the Indiana Pacers (-179) will host the Miami Heat (+150) in an Eastern Conference matchup. The Pacers are currently favored by 4 points and have a record of 5-6. On the other side, the Heat are 4-6 and are 5th in the Eastern Conference.

This game will be played at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis and can be seen on FDSI. The over/under line for this game is currently set at 228 points.

Heat vs. Pacers Key Information

The Heat fell to 4-6 on the season after a 123-121 road loss to the Pistons on Tuesday. Miami, who were -1.5 point favorites, not only lost the game but also failed to cover the spread. The total score of 244 points went well over the pre-game line of 214.5.

Detroit opened the game with a 10-0 run, putting Miami in an early hole. The Heat battled back, outscoring the Pistons 30-25 in the 2nd quarter and 29-20 in the 4th, but it wasn’t enough to complete the comeback.

Tyler Herro knocked down 10 threes at a 58.8% clip, finishing with 40 points and 8 assists in the Heat’s 121-point effort against the Pistons. Herro was particularly effective from deep, hitting 17 threes as a team, shooting 37.8% from beyond the arc and 46.5% overall.

Herro scored 18 points in the 4th quarter, adding 2 more in overtime. Bam Adebayo contributed 20 points and 12 rebounds, scoring 9 points in the 2nd quarter and 4 in OT. Jaime Jaquez also added 8 of his 14 points in the 3rd quarter.

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Defensively, the Heat gave up 123 points to the Pistons, despite holding them to just 20 points in the 4th quarter. They allowed 32 points in the 1st and 34 in the 3rd but limited Detroit to 25 points in the 2nd. Miami sent the Pistons to the line 28 times, where they hit 24 free throws.

From beyond the arc, the Heat held Detroit to 13 threes on 36% shooting. Miami finished with 31 defensive rebounds but allowed 15 offensive boards. They also recorded 14 steals and 3 blocks in the game.

The Pacers dropped to 5-6 on the season after a 94-90 road loss to the Magic on Wednesday. Indiana, who entered the game as +1 point underdogs, failed to cover the spread. The game’s total of 184 points fell well short of the 224-point O/U line.

Indiana started strong, leading 27-18 after the 1st quarter, but a 10-0 run by the Magic shifted momentum. The Pacers regained a 72-68 lead going into the 4th quarter, but Orlando outscored them 26-18 in the final period to seal the win.

The Pacers struggled offensively in their 94-90 loss to the Magic, shooting just 38.1% from the field and hitting 10 threes at a 33.3% clip. Pascal Siakam led the way with 25 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 made threes, shooting 72.7% from the floor and 66.7% from deep.

Bennedict Mathurin added 23 points and 12 rebounds, scoring 12 points in the 4th quarter. Myles Turner contributed 11 points, 8 of which came in the opening period.

The Pacers put together a strong defensive effort, holding the Magic to just 94 points on Wednesday. Indiana limited Orlando to 18 points in the 1st quarter and gave up 27 in the 3rd, their highest of the game. Overall, the Pacers held the Magic to 40% shooting.

From three-point range, the Pacers allowed 13 made threes at a 34% clip. They also sent the Magic to the line 15 times, where they made 13 free throws. Indiana finished with 10 steals and 6 blocks.

Coming in as the underdogs at +4, we have the Heat as the way to go on the point spread. Not only do we have them covering, but our projections show they have a good one of winning this one straight-up, if you’re looking for a higher payout on the moneyline.

Right now, the over/under line for the game is sitting at 228 and given that our model is projecting 238 points between the teams, we like the over.

Pacers and Heat Look for Momentum in NBA Cup Showdown

Matchup: Miami Heat (5-7, 0-1 NBA Cup) vs. Indiana Pacers (4-6, 0-0 NBA Cup)
When: Friday night
Where: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN

The Indiana Pacers are set to make their NBA Cup debut on Friday night when they host the struggling Miami Heat. Both teams are looking to turn around their recent fortunes, with the Pacers aiming to improve their offensive consistency while the Heat hope to find stability amid a slew of injuries.

Heat Looking to Bounce Back After Costly Mistake

The Miami Heat have lost four of their last five games, and their most recent defeat was particularly tough to swallow. Head coach Erik Spoelstra’s uncharacteristic coaching error in Tuesday’s 123-121 overtime loss to the Detroit Pistons was a game-changer. Spoelstra mistakenly called a timeout when the Heat had none left, resulting in a technical foul and giving Detroit the game-winning free throw.

“I feel horrible about it,” Spoelstra said afterward. “I’m 17 years in, we had talked about it in the huddle, I knew that we didn’t have any timeouts. I just got emotional and reactive. It’s a horrendous mistake at the end.”

The Heat’s roster is also dealing with significant health concerns. Jimmy Butler has missed the last two games due to an ankle injury and did not participate in practice on Thursday, making his availability for Friday’s game questionable. In Butler’s absence, Tyler Herro has stepped up, scoring a career-high 40 points against Detroit. Herro is averaging a career-best 24.9 points per game this season, along with 5.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists.

Despite Herro’s strong play, Miami has struggled to find consistency. Bam Adebayo is second on the team in scoring with 15.3 points per game while also leading the squad with 9.1 rebounds per game. Without Butler, the Heat will need Adebayo and Herro to continue carrying the load.

Pacers Seeking Consistency Amid a Grueling Schedule

The Indiana Pacers have had a challenging start to the season, facing a tough schedule that includes several playoff teams from last season. Head coach Rick Carlisle emphasized the need for his team to fight through this early adversity.

“We’ve got to fight and claw for everything at this point in the season,” Carlisle said. “These first 10 or 12 games are as tough as anybody’s schedule in the league, and so we’ve got to make it about the collective group and who we are.”

The Pacers are coming off a rough stretch, having lost two of their last three games, including a low-scoring 94-90 defeat to the Orlando Magic. Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana’s star point guard, has been inconsistent lately. After a stellar 35-point, 14-assist performance against the New York Knicks, Haliburton struggled mightily in the losses to Orlando and Charlotte, shooting just 5-of-25 combined in those games.

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Bennedict Mathurin has been a bright spot for Indiana, scoring a career-high 38 points against the Knicks. He is averaging 19.7 points per game, while Pascal Siakam leads the team with 20.5 points per game. Haliburton, who was expected to be a major contributor, is averaging 16 points and 8.5 assists, both down from last season.

Key Matchups and What to Watch

• Tyler Herro vs. Pacers Defense: With Butler likely sidelined, Herro will be the focal point of Miami’s offense. Indiana will need to find a way to limit his scoring opportunities, especially from beyond the arc.
• Tyrese Haliburton’s Consistency: If Haliburton can find his shooting touch, it could be a game-changer for Indiana. His ability to distribute the ball and involve teammates like Mathurin and Siakam will be crucial.
• Battle on the Boards: Bam Adebayo is a force on the glass, averaging nearly 10 rebounds per game. Indiana’s bigs, led by Myles Turner, will need to match his physicality to prevent Miami from getting second-chance points.

Prediction

Both teams are in need of a win to break out of their respective slumps. The Heat have been playing with a depleted lineup, and if Jimmy Butler remains sidelined, they could struggle to keep up with a young and hungry Pacers squad.

The key for Indiana will be getting consistent production from Tyrese Haliburton and continuing to play tough defense. Miami, on the other hand, will rely heavily on Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo to generate offense.