The Miami Heat (0-2) take on the Charlotte Hornets (1-1) at Spectrum Center on Saturday. Tip-off from Charlotte, North Carolina, is set for 6 p.m. ET. Let's analyze NBA odds around the Heat vs. Hornets odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions for the best bets.
2025-26 season series: Hornets won 3-2, including 127-126 OT win in play-in game
Miami got demolished 128-111 by the Detroit Pistons on Friday while failing to cover as a 2.5-point-home underdog as the Over (235.5) cashed. F Giannis Antetokounmpo has been as advertised, averaging 35.5 points and 9 rebounds on 60% shooting from the field through 2 games, but nobody on Miami's supporting cast has stepped up. Outside of Antetokounmpo, the Heat have not had a player score over 18
points this season, and the field goal percentage for this Heat team when you take Giannis away is just 36%.
Charlotte got embarrassed 128-81 by the Atlanta Hawks on its home court Friday, failing to cover as a 2.5-point home underdog while the Under (227.5) cashed in the process. The Hornets shot just 34% from the field and 22% from beyond the arc in the loss, but the big storyline for Charlotte has been how much G/F Brandon Miller has struggled. In two games, Miller has combined to shoot just 9 of 35 (25.7%) from the field and 4 of 25 (16%) from 3-point range, and he has 5 turnovers to just 1 assist.
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Heat at Hornets odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:30 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Heat -150 (bet $150 to win $100) | Hornets +125 (bet $100 to win $125)
- Against the spread (ATS): Heat -3.5 (-105) | Hornets +3.5 (-115)
- Over/Under (O/U): 229.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Heat at Hornets key injuries
Heat
(Not yet submitted -- below was for Friday's game)
- None
Hornets
(Not yet submitted -- below was for Friday's game)
- G/F Kon Knueppel (hamstring) out
- G Coby White (calf) out
- F Grant Williams (hamstring) out
For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.
Heat at Hornets picks and predictions
Prediction
Heat 120, Hornets 113
Moneyline
PASS.
The Heat will get their first win of the season here and cover as -150 favorites, but it isn't worth the extra juice to back Miami here when I am also picking the Heat to cover ATS. Pass here and bet on the spread and/or total instead.
Against the spread
BET HEAT -3.5 (-110).
Miami has struggled to start the season, shooting just 27.4% from long range as a team and having lost both of its games by double digits, but this matchup is a perfect opportunity for Miami to build some confidence and start to figure some things out. The Heat will have an easier time defending this Hornets team than they did with Detroit or Minnesota, especially with how bad Miller has looked to start the season. Offensively, Giannis will be an unstoppable force in this game as the Hornets don't have anyone to matchup against him.
Over/Under
LEAN OVER 229.5 (-110).
Charlotte's defense has been bad, sitting in the bottom 10 in opponent 3-point percentage (39.5%). On the other side, Miami has a roster full of defensive stoppers, but the Heat have allowed a league-worst 129.5 opponent points per game, so expect that both teams find some offensive success here.
This is a lean because, in spite of Miami's defense not looking great to start, it is possible that the Heat shut the faucet off for the first time this season against a Hornets team that looks much worse offensively compared to last season.
Best prop bet
HEAT F GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO OVER 28.5 POINTS (-110).
Giannis has crushed this line in both games to start the season, so expect no different here. This Heat offense starts and stops with Giannis, and while I do expect that Miami's supporting cast looks better here than it has to start the season, there will be nothing that can stop Giannis from getting 30 here. The Hornets don't have the individual defenders or the defensive identity as a team needed to deal with Giannis, and they especially won't have an answer for him in transition.
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This article originally appeared on Sportsbook Wire: Miami Heat at Charlotte Hornets odds, picks and predictions
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