Thursday's NBA Best Bets: Hunting a Winner Before the All-Star Break

Thursday's NBA Best Bets: Hunting a Winner Before the All-Star Break

The NBA returns on Thursday night, and we have a great battle as the Miami Heat travel to take on the Charlotte Hornets. This is the final day of the NBA until we head into the Al-Star break.

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Charlotte Hornets vs. Miami Heat Prediction

These kinds of games can be tough for teams to get up for sometimes, but Charlotte will have to be well prepared for this game tonight as they find themselves under .500 for the first time in a long time.

The Heat had a great first half of the NBA season, seeing themselves atop the East for the majority of the year. Led by Jimmy Butler and Kyle Lowry, this Heat team has been a tough one to beat. Their experience and grit makes them one of the favorites to come out of the Eastern Conference.

The Heat will be putting a road-winning streak of four games on the line tonight in Charlotte. The Hornets have lost seven of their eight games in the month of February, so they need to get back to work tonight. These two teams just played in Charlotte on February 5 in a game that the Heat won by 18 points. The line for tonight’s game is -4.5, in favor of the Miami Heat. 

The play I am going with in tonight’s game will be to back the cold Charlotte Hornets. I know this won’t be a popular play with a lot of the public on the Miami Heat, but I think this is a great buy-low spot on the Hornets.

The Hornets are due for a good game tonight, especially against a team who just embarrassed them on their home court a couple of weeks ago. The key in this game is going to be the defense for the Hornets. They have struggled all season long on the defensive end but will have a chance to get right in this game.

I like the fade spot here in Miami because this is a road game the day before the All-Star break hits. Typically, in these kinds of games, they can be overlooked by the road team, especially if that road team has had a great first half of the season and is ready for the break.

I love the fact that we can get five points here with the desperate home team. I will not argue that Miami is the better team, but it just seems like this is a great spot for the Charlotte Hornets. I am going to trust the home dog tonight and sprinkle some moneyline on this game myself! I hope everyone enjoys one final day of the NBA before the All-Star break! 

Charlotte Hornets vs. Miami Heat Betting Line Movement

Charlotte Hornets vs. Miami Heat Pick

• PICK: Charlotte Hornets +5 @ -120 (Bet $120 to win $100)