Heat-Timberwolves: Michael Beasley Makes His Return to Miami

Michael Beasley will play his first game against his former team on Tuesday when the Minnesota Timberwolves visit the Miami Heat. The Miami Heat are a huge favorite in the game. The online sportsbook, BetMania, has posted the latest NBA betting odds at 16 points. While the Heat has the better team and is led by the "Big Three," that number may be too big for the Heat to cover.

Beasley was discarded by the Miami Heat in the offseason, as they cleared cap to make a big splash in free agency. Beasley would like to prove to his old team that they made a mistake.

Before dealing with Dwyane Wade or LeBron James, Beasley will have to deal with the local media first. Many requests have been submitted by the local press for interview time with Beasley. Beasley’s agent informed the media that he will do one big press conference when he gets there in order to get it over with. When Beasley was in Miami he had some issues with the way the local media treated him, especially during his 30-day stay in a rehabilitation facility for substance abuse.

"The way the media painted me in Miami, that's not who I am at all," Beasley said. "I know who I am. I'm not asking people to like me, just respect me."

Beasley will get his chance for respect if his team can pull off the monumental upset over the Heat. The Wolves are just 1-2 on the season and are fresh off a beating at the hands of the Memphis Grizzlies. That loss may have been exactly what the team needed before the Miami game. After the game, Wolves coach Kurt Rambis called his team out for a lack of professionalism, and the loss prompted Beasley to call the Wolves the worst team in the NBA. With a renewed focus and extra incentive to win the game, the Wolves will challenge the Heat in this game.

The Heat are 1-3-1 against the spread (ATS) in their last five home games against a team with a losing road record. They have not lost since the opening night to Boston, but they still have some issues with chemistry. I would not be so bold as to believe that the Wolves would upset Miami at home, but they will keep this closer than many experts predict. The Wolves and the points are the way to go.

Wolves (+16)

Matt Regaw is a B/R Featured Columnist and the founder of BookieBlitz.com, your one-stop shop for sports articles, previews, and predictions. Feel free to contact Matt at [e-mail]