The Toronto Raptors are back in action on Wednesday night when they host Kyle Lowry and the Miami Heat at Scotiabank Arena following a four-day break.
At the 20-game mark, Toronto enters the contest with a 9-11 record while Miami sits at 11-9 as the regular season’s quarter mark nears for both teams.
Bet on Heat vs. Raptors
MIA +3.5
TOR -3.5
The Raptors have lost three of their last four contests, including their last tilt by a score of 119-106 to the New York Knicks on Dec. 1. Miami is in a similar predicament, dropping four of its last five contests following a 10-5 start. The Heat suffered a 144-129 defeat at the hands of the Indiana Pacers in their last game on Dec. 2.
Let’s dive into the odds for this Eastern Conference matchup, courtesy of bet365.
Heat vs. Raptors odds
| Heat Moneyline Odds | +140 |
| Raptors Moneyline Odds | -160 |
| Over/Under | 220 points (over -110, under -110) |
| Spread | Raptors -3.5 |
| Time/Date | Dec. 6, 7:30 p.m. ET |
| TV | Broadcast: TSN Stream: NBA League Pass (How to watch the NBA in Canada?) |
All odds courtesy of 
About the Heat (11-9 SU, 9-11 ATS, 10-10 o/u)
The Heat have been plagued with injuries through the first 20 games, forcing them to lean heavily on superstar Jimmy Butler for offensive production. When asked about where the team stands after 20 games, Butler was recently very candid.
“We stand right where we don’t want to be, which is very mediocre,’’ Butler said. “Not good, not bad, just mediocre. You talk about our offence. It’s been mediocre. You talk about our defence. It’s been mediocre.”
Maybe Jimmy Buckets isn’t a big stats guy.
The Heat actually hold the NBA’s 11th-ranked offensive rating, scoring 114.8 points per 100 possessions this season after finishing 25th last year with a 112.3 points per 100 possessions mark. Over the last 10 games, those numbers have improved to a lofty 120.7 points per 100 possessions, ranking them amongst the offensively elite teams in the league.
Those numbers are impressive, especially considering the trio of Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, and Butler have all been available for just six of the team’s opening 20 games due to injury. The team has the seventh-most missed games due to injury in the league to this point.
The Heat have also been road warriors to open the campaign, playing a league-high 12 road games to this point. They’re 6-6 straight-up and 7-5 against the spread away from home.
A good note for in-game bettors: Miami has the NBA’s second-worst fourth-quarter net rating, getting outscored by 13 points per 100 possessions in the fourth quarter this season. The opposition has outscored Miami 573-512 in the fourth quarter to this point.
About the Raptors (9-11 SU, 11-9 ATS, 10-10 o/u)
If the Raptors believe they’re a play-in team this year, it’s time for them to start playing like it.
Pascal Siakam summed up the team’s first 20 games perfectly recently, telling Raptors reporter Josh Lewenberg “It doesn’t feel like anything is bad, it just feels like nothing is amazing.”
While Siakam’s statement is mostly accurate, his own three-point shooting can only be described as “bad.” Ninety-six NBA players have attempted at least 80 three-pointers this season, and none of them are shooting worse than Siakam, whose 19.8% mark from long range is downright awful. It’s also a far cry from his 32.1% average from deep throughout his NBA career. He’s gone just 5-for-52 (9.6%) from beyond the arc over the past 15 games.
Siakam told Lewenberg he believes that his shooting woes “are going to turn around,” and he plans to keep shooting from long range in an attempt to get out of his current funk.
Pascal Siakam under 0.5 threes made
+160
Injury concerns
The Heat have been decimated by injuries early this season and they’ll be without Adebayo (hip) as the centre didn’t make the trip to Toronto. Surprisingly, the Heat boast a team 40.7% three-point percentage and have outscored opponents by 6.1 points per 100 possessions when Adebayo isn’t on the court this season.
Herro (ankle) is also out for Miami, while forward Haywood Highsmith (back) and guard Josh Richardson (knee) are both questionable.
Injury issues have already forced Miami to use an NBA-high 13 different starting lineups through the first 20 games.
Raptors centre Christian Koloko (respiratory illness) remains out.
Betting trends
- Miami is 6-3 ATS in its last nine road games.
- Toronto is 6-1 ATS in the past seven meetings between the teams.
- The Heat have played over the total in five of their last seven games.
Player prop trends
- Siakam has really been helping on the glass lately, recording at least eight rebounds in four straight games while averaging 8.75 during that span. He’s -115 to record over 7.5 boards.
- Jakob Poeltl has found his scoring touch recently, recording 12 or more points in four of his last five games. He’s -130 to score more than 11.5 points.
- Scottie Barnes has been putting in the work on the defensive end, averaging 3.28 steals + blocks over his last seven games. He had a sensational game last time out against the Knicks, recording five steals and a block. He’s -110 to record over 2.5 steals + blocks.
Wagers to consider
- Duncan Robinson over 13.5 points: -115. The Heat will be relying more on Robinson to contribute offensively with so many key players banged up. He’s averaging 17.3 points per game over his last 10 contests and has bested 13.5 points in seven of his last 10 games.
- Bet Boost SGP – Raptors moneyline, Poeltl over 10+ points, Poeltl 10+ rebounds: +300. With Adebayo out, Poeltl could be poised for a big game against Miami’s depleted frontcourt as he matches up against reserves Orlando Robinson and/or Kevin Love more prominently. As previously mentioned, he’s scoring at a higher rate recently and is averaging nearly a double-double (12.5 points, 9.1 rebounds) at home this year.
