Toronto Raptors vs Miami Heat Preview (10/22/22): Prediction, Starting Lineups, Odds

The Toronto Raptors visit the Miami Heat in this matchup between Eastern Conference foes. The Heat come into this game after losing their first game against the Bulls while the Raptors won their first game against the Cavaliers. This will be an interesting matchup because both of these teams will be factors to win the East. You can look at the starting lineups and injuries for each team below. Let’s take a look at the odds and make a some picks and predictions for this game!

Toronto Raptors vs. Miami Heat Betting Odds

The Miami Heat are 3-point home favorites and are at -150 on the money line. There is also no over/under listed just yet. Miami is favored by 3 points, and it seems like the biggest reason why is because they are the home team. The oddsmakers seem to be saying that as of right now these teams are relatively even, but Miami gets a bump due to it being at home. This will be a matchup based around defense, so expect a low scoring game. The over/under will be low to reflect that.

Toronto Raptors vs. Miami Heat Prediction

The Pick: Miami Heat -3

The Miami Heat got off to a slow start with a loss to the Chicago Bulls at home to start the season off, but this is still the team that ended up being the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference. What separates the Heat from the other teams in the East is their tenacity on defense, their 3-point shooting, and their overall depth. Their biggest concern is their overall height and rebounding ability, but that might not be that big of deal in this matchup with Toronto. The Raptors are just a very well-rounded and well-coached team. They won their first game against the Cavaliers in a very close game.

The Raptors should be very good again this year too. However, expect the difference in this game to be Miami’s depth and the fact that they have a guy like Jimmy Butler that is capable of taking over a game. The Raptors have a lot of good players, but there’s no one, except Siakiam, that stands out as able to get his own shot. Take the Heat here, those factors, and the home crowd are why they are the better play here.

Betting Trends

• Raptors are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
• Heat are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games playing on 0 days rest.

Key Matchups

Who can get the better of the other point guard between Fred VanVleet and Kyle Lowry? Which frontcourt star will be the difference maker, Bam Adebayo or Pascal Siakiam?

Fred VanVleet vs. Kyle Lowry

Fred VanVleet essentially took over the starting point guard spot from Kyle Lowry when Lowry left to go play for the Miami Heat last year. These former teammates are a lot alike and play very similarly to each other. The biggest difference is that VanVleet’s a bigger point guard than Lowry is. They haven’t had a chance to play each other just yet, but their stats are very similar too in comparison. The most similarities come with Kyle Lowry averaging 42% from the field, 36.8% from 3-point range, and 81% from free throws. Fred VanVleet averaged 40% from the field, 38.2% from the 3-point range, and 86% from free throws. VanVleet and Lowry is a big key matchup here and will go a long way in deciding who wins.

Bam Adebayo vs. Pascal Siakam

Bam Adebayo is Miami’s best player and is a great fit in what Miami likes to do. Jimmy Butler might be more important, but Adebayo is the more talented player. On the other side, Pascal Siakiam has taken over as the best player for the Toronto Raptors ever since Kawhi Leonard left. When playing each other, Bam Adebayo has averaged 14.5 points, 10 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 0.8 steals, and 1 block a game. Pascal Siakiam has averaged 15.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.4 steals, and 0.7 blocks per matchup. Siakam has been asked to do more than Adebayo, but these two are very equal. Whoever can gain the upper-hand in this matchup will easily have the inisde track to win this matchup.

Toronto Raptors Starting Lineup

PG: Fred VanVleet
SG: Gary Trent Jr.
SF: OG Anunoby
PF: Scottie Barnes
C: Pascal Siakam

Miami Heat Starting Lineups

PG: Kyle Lowry
SG: Tyler Herro
SF: Caleb Martin
PF: Jimmy Butler
C: Bam Adebayo

Key Injuries

Toronto Raptors Injuries: SF Otto Porter Jr. (Hamstring) O, PF Chris Boucher (Hamstring) Q

Miami Heat Injuries: SG Victor Oladipo (Knee) O, C Omer Yurtseven (Ankle) O