Heat vs Hornets Picks and Predictions: Miami Gets Stung Entering the Hive

After falling to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night, the Charlotte Hornets will now be looking to avoid a three-game losing streak when they host the Miami Heat on Saturday. The Heat are fresh off a 17-point win over the San Antonio Spurs, and they had Kyle Lowry in the lineup for the first time since January 15 in that one. 

Will Charlotte find a way to get back in the win column? You’ll want to keep reading our Heat vs. Hornets NBA picks and predictions for our plays in this February 5 contest. 

Heat vs Hornets odds

This odds widget represents the best odds available for each betting market from regulated sportsbooks.

The Heat were laying 3.5 points when this game first became available and they’re now beginning to move to 4-point favorites at some books. Meanwhile, the total in this game opened at 225 and it could end up going down to 224.5 — which it already has at one book. 

Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right until tip-off and be sure to check out the full NBA odds before betting to ensure you get the best number.

Heat vs Hornets predictions

• Prediction: Hornets +4 (-110)
• Prediction: Over 224.5 (-110)
• Best bet: Hornets +4 (-110)

Predictions made on 2/5/2022 at 1:45 a.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.

Heat vs Hornets game info

• Location: Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC
• Date: Saturday, February 5, 2022
• Tip-off: 7:00 p.m. ET
• TV: BSSUN, BSSE

Heat vs Hornets betting preview

Key injuries

Heat: Caleb Martin F (Questionable), KZ Okpala F (Questionable), Omer Yurtseven C (Questionable), Victor Oladipo G (Out), Markieff Morris F (Out).
Hornets: Gordon Hayward F (Questionable), Jalen McDaniels F (Out).
Find our latest NBA injury reports.

Betting trend to know

The Hornets are 18-5 against the spread in their last 23 games against teams with winning records. Find more NBA betting trends for Heat vs. Hornets.

Heat vs Hornets picks and predictions

Our predictions are compiled from the analysis of the spread and total and are indications of where we are leaning for this game.
Our best bet is the play that we like the most for this game, which we would actually put some of our bankroll behind.

Spread analysis

The Heat are nearly at full strength for the first time in quite a while, and they’re going to be one of the true Eastern Conference contenders if they can stay healthy moving forward. Having two-way studs like Lowry, Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo really makes this a scary team, but it will take a little bit of time for Miami to get comfortable playing together. The Hornets have also been superb at home this year, so this isn’t exactly a great spot for team-building. 

On the season, the Hornets are 14-8 straight-up and 15-7 against the spread when playing at home, and they’re also 7-4 straight-up and 9-2 against the spread when playing as home underdogs this year. This is a team that feeds off the energy of its home crowd, and players like LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges do a heck of a lot to get those fans off their feet. In a game against one of the best teams in the league, the building should be absolutely rocking tonight. 

Charlotte plays at the second-fastest pace in the entire league, and this team is going to look to get up and down the floor in a hurry. The Hornets were completely taken out of their game by the Heat when these teams met on October 29, but they’ll have more control of the tempo with this one being on their home floor. Ball is going to really do his best to get his team good looks before the Heat can set their elite defense, and it’d also be wise for him to test the condition of some of these Miami players. A lot of them are either just returning to the lineup or are dealing with some injuries, so Charlotte could take advantage there. 

Overall, this seems like a game the Heat could let slip away as they work towards finding a way to gel with one another before the postseason. Charlotte knows exactly what type of team it wants to be, so James Borrego’s group will look to outscore a Miami team that could be shaky over the next week or so. 

Prediction: Hornets +4 (-110) 

Over/Under analysis

The Over has hit in seven of the last eight games that the Heat have played, and it’s also 14-3 in the last 17 road games that the Heat have played against teams with home winning percentages of 60.0% or higher. It’s hard to imagine this not being yet another high-scoring game, especially considering the Hornets love to play at a fast pace. 

The Over has actually hit in five of the last six meetings between these two teams, with their meeting back in October being the one to snap a five-game Over streak. That, however, was a game in which Charlotte shot uncharacteristically poorly. The Hornets should have a new way to attack the Heat defense, and they’ll do their part in helping Over bettors cash in this one. 

In the 11 games the Hornets have played as home underdogs this season, the Over has actually hit seven times. 

Prediction: Over 224.5 (-110)

Best bet

As previously mentioned, this Hornets team has just consistently delivered when playing at home this season, even when the team has been an underdog. Charlotte is also 18-5 against the spread in its last 23 games against winning opponents, so it’s not like Borrego’s crew has struggled to compete against great competition. This meeting with Miami isn’t going to be easy, and Charlotte is coming off of a tough loss last night. However, the Hornets should be able to get up for this game and give the Heat a run for their money. 

While Miami has a 33-20 record on the season, the team is just 15-14 when playing on the road this year. The Heat also happen to be just 1-4 against the spread in their last five games. 

Pick: Hornets +4 (-110)

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