MIAMI HEAT @ ATLANTA HAWKS
Basketball : North America : NBA
Sunday, February 12th, 2012, 7:00PM US
(12:00AM GMT)

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TEAM STATS

MIAMI ----- Total 20-7 :: Home 12-2 :: Road 8-5 :: Streak - W1
ATLANTA - Total 18-9 :: Home 9-4 :: Road 9-5 :: Streak W2

PREVIEW

Atlanta's record is almost as good as Miami's and they will want to win here bad, because they have been beaten by Miami the last 4 times they've hosted them. The owe the fans one.

Atlanta have beaten Miami this season, in Florida with a 100-92 score. Just a week later they lost 116-109 so maybe this is a good spot to take the home team with points. It is also important to note that when Miami won, they needed three periods of OT to do so. There is talk of how Miami won without their stars, James and Wade, but when Atlanta won the week before they did so James, Wade and Bosh playing, so it can be done.

Miami are surging at the moment, winning 4 of their last 5, but still the number remains at 4, and might drop closer to game time. This is because this is a pick'em game, in my opinion. Especially so with Atlanta at home, regardless of the losses they have taken previously to the Heat.

Miami recently lost to Orlando, last week, who Atlanta bandled just days later. Miami's average margin of victory on the road is 101-99. That's 2 points and takes into account hammerings of weaker teams, such as Washington. I really doubt they'll have an easy game today and I have a suspicion Atlanta could well even win outright!

BETTING VERDICT

I'll take Atlanta tonight with the 4 point start as a 5 point loss seems very unlikely.

The Pick :

Atlanta Hawks +4

HANDICAP BETTING :

Take the Atlanta Hawks +4 @ 1.95 (Pinnacle)