The Heat will be happy to return home from their West Coast road trip where they went 1-4. The Rockets are coming off of a good win against the Bucks and they have won 3 of their last 4 games. Let's take a closer look at this matchup and get into our Rockets vs Heat Prediction - NBA Picks 1/8/24.
Houston Rockets:
The Rockets have a record of 18-16, winning three of their last five games. Alperen Sengun leads the team with an average of 21.4 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game. Jalen Green and Fred VanVleet are also key contributors, with both scoring over 17.0 points per game. However, Dillon Brooks and Tari Eason are questionable for this game, which could impact Houston's performance.
Houston is known for its defensive prowess, forcing opponents to take contested shots and playing at a slower pace. They allow just 109.9 points per game and opponents shoot only 45.1% against them.
Miami Heat:
The Heat are 20-15 this season, winning six of their last ten games. Despite dealing with injuries, Tyler Herro, Bam Adebayo, and Jimmy Butler have been significant contributors when healthy. Herro leads the team with 22.4 points per game, while Adebayo averages 22.0 points and 10.3 rebounds. However, Jimmy Butler is questionable with a foot injury.
Miami's defense is also strong, allowing just 111.6 points per game, the eighth-best mark in the NBA. However, they struggle with rebounding, ranking 26th in the league.
Game Prediction:
This game is expected to be a close and low-scoring affair, with both teams preferring a slower pace. Miami's home advantage and their ability to control the tempo could be decisive factors. The Heat's depth, particularly with rookie Jaime Jacquez Jr. stepping up, might help them overcome Butler's potential absence.
Final Score
Heat 109 Rockets 106
