The Heat visit the Magic in a huge division rival clash in Florida.<\/p>\n
Miami had won five in a row prior to going down to a depleted Washington outfit on the road on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The Heat remain third in the East at 24-9 behind the league\u2019s 12th best defensive rating (106.8) and two likely All Stars in Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo.<\/p>\n
Eric Spoelstra\u2019s side will be coming off a back-to-back trip from home against Toronto on Friday (all times AEST).<\/p>\n
Orlando\u2019s form has been patchy at best, winning three of their last eight, yet still hold down the East\u2019s eighth seed at 15-19 overall.<\/p>\n
They have been much better at home (10-7) than on the road (5-12) this season.<\/p>\n
However, Steve Clifford\u2019s team has been dealt a major blow with defensive stud Jonathan Isaac set to miss at least the next two months with a knee injury.<\/p>\n
Tip: <\/strong>Miami to win @ $1.82<\/a><\/p>\n The Sixers are in Houston in a blockbuster inter conference battle.<\/p>\n Philadelphia are in a slump, dropping six of their last nine, including three in a row, to slide down to the East\u2019s sixth seed at 23-13 overall.<\/p>\n The Sixers have particularly struggled on the road where they are just 7-11. Star big man Joel Embiid recently challenged his teammates to \u201cshoot the ball more\u201d and \u201cget out of our comfort zone\u201d in what may have been a subtle dig at Ben Simmons.<\/p>\n Philly\u2019s 105.0 defensive rating ranks eighth in the NBA.<\/p>\n The Rockets have split their last four games 2-2 but did get a big 130-104 win over the Nuggets at home on Wednesday.<\/p>\n James Harden, Russel Westbrook and Clint Capela returned against Denver to give this team a major boost, now sitting fourth in the West at 24-11.<\/p>\n Tip: <\/strong>Houston to win @ $1.52<\/a><\/p>\n The Pelicans are in LA to close out the ESPN double-header.<\/p>\n It simply hasn\u2019t been New Orleans\u2019 season, but their form has picked up recently, winning four in a row. Those victories have come over Portland, Denver, Indiana and Houston.<\/p>\n Zion Williamson participated in his first full practice this week and is hoping to return to the court in January but expect the Pels to be super careful with how they manage the rookie\u2019s workload.<\/p>\n The Lake Show continues to roll on, winning three in a row to maintain their handle on the first seed in the West at 27-7.<\/p>\n They had lost four in a row leading through Christmas but have got things back on track and are undefeated in the new year.<\/p>\n The Lakers\u2019 104.8 defensive rating ranks eighth in the NBA and the LeBron James-Anthony Davis tandem has proven to be the strongest in the league.<\/p>\n LA won this matchup 114-110 in New Orleans in late November.<\/p>\nPhiladelphia 76ers at Houston Rockets (ESPN)<\/a><\/h3>\n
New Orleans Pelicans at LA Lakers (ESPN)<\/a><\/h3>\n