Portland Trail Blazers at Miami Heat on Tuesday, January 19 is about as close to a coin flip as the ratings get, with the Heat at only 55%. Small things like rest, health and shooting variance should decide it.
Why it is so close
The Win Meter reads the Heat 55%, with a projected score of Portland Trail Blazers 112, Miami Heat 114. The rating gap is 63 points in favor of the Trail Blazers, and home court and rest add about 100 rating points for the Heat on top of that.
Readings in this range leave plenty of room for the other side. About 45 times in 100 games like this, the Trail Blazers would win.
Recent form
The Trail Blazers are 2-0 this season and 2-3 in their last 5 games, with an average margin of -0.6. The Heat are 0-3 this season and 1-4 in their last 5 games, with an average margin of -4.4.
The Trail Blazers' best recent win was 124-83 at home against PHX.
The Trail Blazers were beaten 114-93 at home by SAS not long ago.
The Heat's best recent win was 143-117 at home against ATL.
The Heat were beaten 131-106 at home by MIN not long ago.
Injuries to watch
Out: Shaedon Sharpe (POR), expected back Mar 2, 2027.
Day to day or questionable: Chris Youngblood (POR), Branden Carlson (POR), and Pelle Larsson (MIA). Their status can change before tip-off.
The season series
In our records of recent meetings, the series is even, with the Heat outscoring the Trail Blazers by an average of 0 points per game. The last meeting was MIA 110, POR 127.