Miami Heat (24-21) vs. New Orleans Pelicans (26-18)
January 18, 2023 8:00 pm EDT
The Line: New Orleans Pelicans +1; Over/Under: +223
(Get latest betting odds)
The Miami Heat and New Orleans Pelicans meet Wednesday in NBA action at the Smoothie King Center. Let’s preview this game and give out a pick and prediction.
The Miami Heat Preview
The Miami Heat are averaging 108.9 points on 45.3 percent shooting and allowing 108.8 points on 47.5 percent shooting. Jimmy Butler is averaging 22.1 points and 6.4 rebounds, while Bam Adebayo is averaging 21.4 points and 10.1 rebounds. Tyler Herro is the third double-digit scorer and Max Strus is grabbing 3.7 rebounds. The Miami Heat are shooting 33.8 percent from beyond the arc and 83.1 percent from the free throw line. The Miami Heat are allowing 36.8 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 41.4 rebounds per game.
The New Orleans Pelicans Preview
The New Orleans Pelicans are averaging 117 points on 48.1 percent shooting and allowing 113.3 points on 47.1 percent shooting. Zion Williamson is averaging 26 points and 7 rebounds, while CJ McCollum is averaging 21.3 points and 4.6 rebounds. Brandon Ingram is the third double-digit scorer and Jonas Valanciunas is grabbing 9.8 rebounds. The New Orleans Pelicans are shooting 36.5 percent from beyond the arc and 78 percent from the free throw line. The New Orleans Pelicans are allowing 34 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 44.9 rebounds per game.
Trends
The Heat are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 Wednesday games. The Pelicans are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games following a ATS loss. The under is 6-2 in Heat last 8 overall. The over is 8-3 in Pelicans last 11 games playing on 1 days rest. The Heat are 6-1 ATS in the last 7 meetings in New Orleans and 17-5 ATS in the last 22 meetings.
Randy’s Free Pick
The New Orleans Pelicans are excellent at home, but they’re still without their top two players in Zion and Ingram, and it makes them hard to back against decent to above average teams. Despite Monday’s lousy effort, the Heat has been improved over the last two weeks, and they’re starting to get healthy. Toss up game, give me the healthier team in the Heat.
