Miami Heat vs Golden State Warriors 2/18/21: Starting Lineups, Matchup Preview, Betting Odds

Miami Heat vs. Golden State Warriors Matchup Preview

The second game of the doubleheader on ESPN tonight is between the Warriors and Heat. Miami has continued to struggle this season and is just 5-5 over the last ten games. Miami has beat just one team that is over .500 this season and is only 4-5 against the West. While the Warriors have not been great against teams over .500, they do have at least five ins. And there is more reason for people to believe the Heat would have more success this season compared to the Warriors given their current roster. Golden State is sitting in the 8th spot for the West, which is going to be a battle till the end of the year with Dallas, Memphis, and Denver all around them. Miami is only a game and a half back but the group of teams should be easier for them to overcome with the Bulls and Hornets currently ahead of them. For odds movement and full matchup history, visit the Miami Heat At Golden State Warriors Matchup Page.

TV Schedule

Date: 2/17/21
Time: 10:00 PM ET
Arena: Chase Center – San Francisco, CA
Channel: ESPN

Live Stream Heat vs. Warriors Free Online: Watch Every NBA Game

You can stream this game online for free. You can get a free 7-day trial and live stream NBA games from any device. Click the banner below and start watching.

Heat Starting 5

PG: Kendrick Nunn
SG: Jimmy Butler
SF: Duncan Robinson
PF: Kelly Olynyk
C: Bam Adebayo

Heat Analysis

While the Eastern Conference has improved, Miami is still struggling this season and really we haven’t seen much outside of Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo. Tyler Herro has averaged 17 per game but the rest of the team has been very inconsistent. They played deep into last season of course and had a quick turnaround but we are starting to see other teams in the same situation break out of that. Miami has yet to do so. Jimmy Butler is elevating his play this month but the team defense hasn’t been as good as prior seasons. After being one of the best three-point shooting teams in the league last season, shooting 38%, they are shooting just 35% from three and rank 23rd. The offense has been tough to find in Miami, ranking 27th in points per game. Given the defense hasn’t shown up in 2021, the offense isn’t built for these shootout games. While some of this should even out, the time is ticking in a shorter season.

Warriors Starting 5

PG: Stephen Curry
SG: Andrew Wiggins
SF: Kelly Oubre
PF: Juan Toscano-Anderson
C: Draymond Green

Warriors Analysis

Golden State’s offense might not look the same as before, but they rank 8th in scoring behind an MVP like season from Steph Curry. He is shooting 49% from the field and 43% from three this season averaging 30-5-5. The offense is back for Golden State, but it comes and goes with Andrew Wiggins and Kelly Oubre being the secondary options. Wiggins is averaging 17 points on 46% shooting and 37% from three, but Oubre remains the real wild card with 40% shooting and 29% from three. He is averaging just 13 points per game. James Wiseman was giving the Warriors some solid minutes but will be out the next few weeks. The frontcourt scoring is abysmal, with nobody averaging over 7 points per game. With the Warriors allowing 112 points per game and boasting average defensive numbers, some nights they are going to need to find that front-court scoring.

Heat & Warriors DFS Angle

Stephen Curry has been putting up Curry-like numbers and is averaging 52 fantasy points per game over his last ten games. He has a 33% usage rate in that span and a ceiling of 64 points. While expensive he is in that range of pay-up options to consider. Tyler Herro has averaged over 3o fantasy points in his last ten games and is worth a look in GPPs. He will remain coming off the bench but projects for 30+ minutes still. Jimmy Butler has been playing incredibly well of late and is also averaging over 50 fantasy points. At $8,800 on DraftKings, this is not a bad spot to pay up for him at a spot where we have bad some up and down play. Bam Adebayo is someone to look at tonight, given he faces a Warriors team that ranks 23rd against centers. He is playing very well and is averaging over 40 fantasy points in the last ten games.

Heat vs. Warriors Betting Odds

Heat Spread: +1.5
Heat Moneyline: -102
Warriors Spread: -1.5
Warriors Moneyline: -119
Over/Under Points Total: 222.5

The Heat are in the midst of a tough west coast trip which hasn’t been friendly to some of the Eastern Conference teams. Miami has also been struggling, going just 11-16 so far this season and covering only nine times against the spread. The Warriors have had their moments but are not a consistent team. However, they have been far better covering than the Heat. Public money is heavily on the Warriors tonight as well as the over. While it is tough to say the Warriors are a legitimate team, Miami is struggling against teams over .500. And as underdogs, they are just 2-8 this season and 4-9 on the road.