Miami at Los Angeles

Miami opened 0-4 and has since won twice, the latest a 145-125 home win over Indiana on Friday. Giannis Antetokounmpo had 31 points, 18 rebounds, and 10 assists in that game. Bam Adebayo had averaged 11.8 points on 40% shooting through the first four games and scored 27 on 11-of-14 against the Pacers. The Heat are 2-4 and the Lakers are 5-2. Luka Doncic leads the NBA at 37.7 points per game and scored 45 on Sunday night against Toronto. That win still got uncomfortable. The Lakers led the Raptors by 22 entering the fourth quarter; Toronto scored 43 in it and pulled within five, and Los Angeles finished with 24 turnovers. The Lakers needed their starters back on the floor for the last few possessions of a game they had already pulled away in. Indiana had only 11 available players Friday, and I'm not claiming Miami's offense is a finished product. But Antetokounmpo and Adebayo are a frontcourt pair Los Angeles has to answer at the rim, with Doncic's team giving the ball away and letting an opponent score 43 in a quarter. Miami scored 64 points in the paint in its last game, so I have the Heat with the points tonight.