Pelicans vs. Heat Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats and Best Bets
The New Orleans Pelicans (34-22) are 3.5-point favorites as they try to build on a three-game home win streak when they square off against the Miami Heat (30-25) on Friday, February 23, 2024 at Smoothie King Center. The matchup airs at 8:00 PM ET on BSNO. The matchup has an over/under of 222.5.
Pelicans vs. Heat Odds
How to Bet on Pelicans vs. Heat
Game Time and Information
Who Will Win Pelicans vs. Heat?
Pelicans and Heat Betting Trends, Records Against the Spread
The Pelicans have a 13-9-1 record against the spread in games they were favored by 3.5 points or more this season.
The Heat have a 9-9 record against the spread when an underdog by 3.5 points or more this season.
Between them, these two teams average 4.7 more points per game (227.2) than this game’s over/under (222.5).
New Orleans and Miami have seen its opponents average a combined 222.5 points per game, the same as the point total set in this outing.
The average over/under the Pelicans have had set in games this year is 6.2 more points than this outing’s point total.
The average over/under in Miami’s games this year is 1.5 fewer points than the point total of 222.5 in this outing.
New Orleans has a 31-23-2 record against the spread this season.
The Heat are 26-27-2 against the spread this year.
Pelicans Stats & Insights
The Pelicans are outscoring opponents by 4.5 points per game with a +255 scoring differential overall. They put up 116.6 points per game (14th in the NBA) and allow 112.1 per contest (eighth in the league).
The 44.2 rebounds per game the Pelicans average rank 10th in the league, and are 2.0 more than the 42.2 their opponents collect per outing.
New Orleans connects on 12.2 three-pointers per game (18th in the league) while shooting 37.7% from beyond the arc (eighth-best in the NBA). It is making 1.2 fewer threes per outing than its opponents, who drain 13.4 per game while shooting 34.6%.
The Pelicans average 118.8 points per 100 possessions on offense (12th in the league), and give up 114.2 points per 100 possessions (seventh in the NBA).
In 2023-24, the Pelicans’ offense has been better at home, where they score 118.0 points per game, compared to road games, where they record 115.4 per game. Defensively, they have been slightly better when playing at home, where they concede 111.4 points per game, versus playing on the road, where they allow their opponents to score 112.7 per game.
Heat Stats & Insights
The Heat have a +11 scoring differential, putting up 110.6 points per game (27th in league) and conceding 110.4 (fourth in NBA).
Miami ranks 23rd in the NBA at 42.2 rebounds per game. That’s similar to the 42.8 its opponents average.
The Heat make 12.4 three-pointers per game (16th in the league) while shooting 37.2% from deep (11th in NBA). They are making 1.1 fewer threes than their opponents, who drain 13.5 per game at 36.4%.
The Heat’s 114.8 points per 100 possessions on offense rank 22nd in the NBA, and the 114.6 points they allow per 100 possessions rank ninth in the league.
Miami is putting up more points at home (113.1 per game) than on the road (108.0).
Pelicans Key Players to Watch
The active leader in points and assists for the Pelicans this season is Zion Williamson, who scores 22.5 points and dishes out 4.9 assists per game.
Jonas Valanciunas scores 13.8 points per game and adds 9.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists for the Pelicans.
The Pelicans get 3.4 three-pointers per game out of CJ McCollum.
Herbert Jones averages 1.3 steals per game, while Valanciunas has 1.0 block per contest.
Heat Key Players to Watch
Bam Adebayo is having a well-balanced season overall, with 20.2 points per game, 10.6 rebounds per game, and 4.2 assists per game.
Duncan Robinson cashes in on 2.8 treys per game.
The Heat’s defensive efforts get a boost from Jaime Jaquez Jr.’s 1.1 steals and Adebayo’s 1.0 block per game.
Over (222.5)
Pelicans 116 – Heat 108
