The Miami Heat got some concerning news in advance of their game against the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday. The latest Bam Adebayo injury update reveals that he is questionable for Saturday’s game with a hip contusion. Bettors must seriously consider whether Bam Adebayo is playing tonight before placing their wagers.
The Mavericks and 76ers will tip off early at 7:30 p.m. ET, so bettors and NBA DFS players should get an update well before lock. Those looking for an edge should heed this advice or check out OddsShopper’s tools for sharp NBA bets. A full subscription to OddsShopper Premium will help you find +ROI bets and become a profitable sports bettor!
Bam Adebayo Injury Update – NBA Betting Impact
With the NBA playoffs approaching, the Miami Heat find themselves at 40-37 and 1.5 games behind the Brooklyn Nets for the final guaranteed playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. They have a 1.5-game lead over the Atlanta Hawks for the eighth seed, but if the Heat want to avoid the play-in — or a first-round matchup with the Boston Celtics — they’ll have to string some wins together.
Miami’s precarious situation makes the injury to Bam Adebayo that much more serious. Although Adebayo has played every game since January, he must have picked up a hip injury in Tuesday’s blowout loss to the Toronto Raptors. Adebayo dealt with a knee injury earlier in the year, and it’s unclear if this issue is at all related.
If Adebayo sits, the heat would likely slide Cody Zeller into the starting lineup at center. Zeller has yet to make a start for the Heat this year, but with rookie big man Nikola Jovic already ruled out, Zeller is the likeliest to get the nod. Ömer Yurtseven and Orlando Robinson may see some usage off the bench if Adebayo can’t go.
EDITOR’S NOTE (4/1/2023 at 3:30 p.m.): Bam Adebayo has been ruled out.
Mavericks-Heat NBA Betting Tips & Advice
Saturday’s Mavericks-Heat game opened with neither team favored, but early action has led the Heat to become a 1-point favorite. Both the Heat and Mavericks are in desperate need of a win, although Dallas is in a considerably worse situation, as the team currently isn’t qualified for the Western Conference play-in tournament.
The early movement in Miami’s favor suggests that sharp bettors expect Adebayo to play through his injury designation. The Heat are 3-2 without their star center this year, but their three wins came by single possessions over the Oklahoma City Thunder, Minnesota Timberwolves and Houston Rockets. They lost to the Raptors and Washington Wizards in games that Adebayo missed.
For as much as the Dallas Mavericks have struggled since acquiring Kyrie Irving, it makes sense to back them as a slight road underdog with Adebayo’s status in question. The Heat have often kept their cards close to their chest until late when making injury decisions, as their choice to rule Jimmy Butler out quite close to tip earlier in the week suggests.
The Heat are the worse team and could lose even if Adebayo plays. Miami ranks 25th in net rating since the All-Star Break (-5.2), worse than the 17th-ranked Dallas (-0.1). Bettors can head to DraftKings Sportsbook to back the Mavericks as a 1-point underdog — or to buy them on the moneyline Those new to DraftKings can earn $150 in bonus bets with a winning $5 moneyline wager. Bettors in Ohio can score the same deal but via this link instead!
