Heat vs. Pelicans NBA expert prediction and odds for Friday, Feb 23 (New Orleans set for home win and cover)
By Reed Wallach
The Pelicans jumpstarted the second half of the season with a blowout win against the Rockets at home.
On Friday night, the Miami Heat come to the Smoothie King Center to take on the Pelicans, who are jockeying for position in the Western Conference playoff picture and would love to score a mini-sweep on a back-to-back at home.
Can the Heat, who were off on Thursday, start its second half impressively? Let's break it all down with our best bet for this Friday night matchup in the Bayou.
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Heat vs. Pelicans Odds, Spread and Total
Pelicans vs. Heat Betting Trends
- The Pelicans are 31-24-1 against the spread (ATS) this season
- The Heat are 7-3 ATS in the last 10 games
- The Heat have gone UNDER in eight of 10 games
Heat vs. Pelicans Injury Reports
Heat Injury Report
- Orlando Robinson - questionable
- Tyler Herro- questionable
- Terry Rozier - OUT
Pelicans Injury Report
- Brandon Ingram - questionable
- Dyson Daniels - OUT
Heat vs. Pelicans How to Watch
- Date: Friday, February 23rd
- Game Time: 8:00 PM Est
- Venue: Smoothie King Center
- How to Watch (TV):
- Heat Record: 30-25
- Pelicans Record: 34-22
Heat vs. Pelicans Key Players to Watch
Heat
Jimmy Butler: If the Heat have a second-half surge in them, it'll come from Butler. The leader of Miami, Butler has played to his standards this season, scoring 21 points per game while dishing out nearly five assists and grabbing five rebounds. However, Butler is shooting far more effectively from three, a career-high 44%.
Pelicans
Zion Williamson: Williamson was dominant on Thursday, scoring 27 points while dishing out nine assists as the Pelicans destroyed the Rockets. With Brandon Ingram's status up in the air, Williamson will need another big performance against a strong Heat frontcourt that features Bam Adebayo.
Heat vs. Pelicans Prediction and Pick
The Heat, while a contender in a playoff setting, still don't seem to have it all clicking this season. Miami is slightly positive on the year in terms of net rating (+0.3) according to NBA.com, which checks in 17th in the NBA.
While the Pelicans are on the second night of a back-to-back, the team is far superior, seventh in terms of net rating, and gets the benefit of staying at home after playing on Thursday.
The Heat are simply a mediocre team over the balance of the season and have been even worse when the team hits the road. Miami is 24th in terms of points per 100 possessions when on the road this season. While the defense has helped offset some of the team's drawbacks, I don't believe the team can stay close with a Pelicans team that has the depth and firepower to overwhelm Miami's limited offense.
Even without Ingram, the Pelicans offense hasn't dropped off much, less than a point per 100 possessions.
Lay it with the Pelicans at home.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
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