Nba Espn Friday

NEW YORK KNICKS (7-11) at MIAMI HEAT (13-5)

Sportsbook.com Line: Miami -11 & 194.5
Opening Line & Total: Heat -10 & 195.5

The Knicks are off to another disappointing start, but they still have a chance to win a third straight game over the Heat when the teams meet in Miami on Friday night.

These teams played in South Beach last February, just days after the Knicks’ blockbuster trade to acquire Carmelo Anthony. Anthony scored 29 in the 91-86 New York victory that night. But this year’s Knicks are struggling, and Anthony (wrist, ankle) will be sidelined on Friday night. With no starting-caliber point guard on their roster, and their most dynamic scorer out of the lineup, New York (4-14 ATS this season) stands little chance in this one.

Anthony (23.6 PPG on 39.4% shooting, 6.9 RPG) is having his worst season, but New York still has few good alternatives on the offensive end. Fellow All-Star F Amar’e Stoudemire (17.8 PPG, 8.4 RPG) has been equally shaky, averaging just 14.6 PPG on 41.7% shooting during an eight-game stretch in which the Knicks have gone 1-7 (SU and ATS). Rookie PG Iman Shumpert (11.3 PPG, 3.4 APG), who played to rave reviews early in the season, has been atrocious during that stretch, averaging 10.3 PPG on 32.6% shooting with nearly as many turnovers (2.9 per game) as assists (3.3). Bill Walker (5.2 PPG) figures to slide into Anthony’s starting spot. He’s 2-for-9 from the field for seven points through the first two games of New York’s road trip.

The Heat are coming off back-to-back SU wins over inferior opponents, but failed to cover the spread against Cleveland or in Detroit. SG Dwyane Wade (19.6 PPG, 5.4 APG) has missed six straight games with an ankle injury, but after reportedly looking 100% healthy in Wednesday’s shoot-around in Detroit (he was held out of that game as a precaution) he seems to have a very good chance to return on Friday. However, the Heat are just 5-4 SU and 2-7 ATS with Wade in the lineup this season.

LeBron James (29.1 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 7.1 APG) has had plenty of big nights against the Knicks. Over the past two seasons, he averaged 29.0 PPG on 51.7% shooting, 8.9 RPG and 7.4 APG against New York. PF Chris Bosh (21.7 PPG, 7.7 RPG) has come on very strong of late, averaging 26.7 PPG on 62.9% shooting over Miami’s past six games.