NBA Picks: Los Angeles Clippers vs. Miami Heat

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Miami Heat forward LeBron James has averaged just 23.4 points per game in his career against the Los Angeles Clippers, which is important to consider when making your NBA against-the-spread picks on Friday night, as two of the league's best teams meet at AmericanAirlines Arena.

Sports bettors will find that the Heat are four-point favorites in the pro basketball odds (courtesy of SBR Forum), while the total opened at 195 in the market.

Let's take a closer look at this non-conference affair from a betting perspective, while offering a prediction on the total along the way. 

Los Angeles Clippers

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Clippers have dropped seven of their last 10 games, but they managed to pick up an 86-76 victory over the Orlando Magic as five-point road favorites on Wednesday night.

Sports bettors will find that the Clippers are 14-0 straight up and 10-4 against the spread after allowing 85 points or less in their previous game. 

Miami Heat

USA TODAY Sports

The Miami Heat have won three games in a row, including a 114-108 victory over the Houston Rockets as 7.5-point home favorites on Wednesday night.

Sports bettors will find that the home team is 13-3-1 against the spread in the last 17 meetings in this series. 

Prediction

I'm going to recommend that readers play the total as one of their sports betting picks on Friday night, as the OVER is 10-3 in the Los Angeles Clippers' 13 games this year when playing a team that averages 99 or more points per game.

The Heat are averaging 106.8 points per game at home during the 2012-13 NBA campaign.

NBA Pick: Over

 

Follow Jeff Grant on Twitter