Pistons vs. Heat NBA expert prediction and odds for Tuesday, March 5 (Miami will cove

The Miami Heat have won eight of their last 10 games heading into a fairly easy matchup with the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night. 

Miami is just one game out of the No. 5 seed in the East, and the team is starting to look more like the squad that made the NBA Finals last season. 

Now, the Heat put their home against the spread record to the test against a Detroit team that has struggled to win this season, but is 16-15 against the spread as a road underdog. 

Can Cade Cunningham and company make Jimmy Butler and the Heat sweat this one out?

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Let’s break down the odds and my best bet for this matchup: 

Pistons injury report

Heat injury report

Detroit Pistons 

Cade Cunningham: Cade Cunningham is coming off one of his worst games in quite some time, scoring just nine points on 4-of-12 shooting in a loss to the Orlando Magic. Cunningham did give Miami problems in the season opener, putting up 30 points (4-for-9 from 3) and nine assists in a one-point Pistons loss. 

Miami Heat

Jimmy Butler: Playoff Jimmy is starting to get warmed up, as he’s put up four straight games with over 20 points, including a 37-point masterpiece in a win over the Utah Jazz on Saturday. Miami’s star may owe the Pistons a little revenge after shooting just 6-for-18 from the field in the season opener. 

Over its last 10 games, Miami is one of the best teams in the NBA, ranking No. 4 in the league in net rating. 

The Heat are starting to come into their own, and even with Tyler Herro out in this game, I think they’re in a prime spot to cover as home favorites. 

Detroit has covered the spread in just three of its last eight games, losing badly to the Orlando Magic on Sunday and failing to cover against the Donovan Mitchell-less Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night. 

Jimmy Butler has been on fire for Miami as of late, and Miami’s defense (No. 3 in defensive rating over the last 10 games) should stifle a Detroit offense that is just 27th in offensive rating over its last 10 games. 

The Heat have also covered in nine of their last 10 games, including three of their last four as home favorites.

Pick: Heat -11.5 (-110)

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

Find Peter Dewey's NBA betting record here (futures included). You can also follow my daily plays on BetStamp here.