New Orleans Pelicans (26-18) vs Miami Heat (24-21)
Game Info: Wednesday, January 18, 2023 at 8:00 pm (Smoothie King Center)
Betting Odds: New Orleans Pelicans +1.5 -- Over/Under: 223 Click Here for the Latest Odds
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The Miami Heat and the New Orleans Pelicans duke it out at the Smoothie King Center on Wednesday night.
The Miami Heat have been in fine form as they’ve won eight of their last 12 games overall and they will be hoping to bounce back after having their three-game win streak snapped by the Hawks in a 121-113 road loss on Monday. Jimmy Butler led the team with 34 points on 11 of 16 shooting, Bam Adebayo added 20 points with 13 rebounds and five assists while Tyler Herro chipped in with 15 points. As a team, the Heat shot 48 percent from the field and eight of 31 from the 3-point line, but they weren’t switched on at the start of the game and it cost them as they were always fighting an uphill battle after getting outscored by 70-50 in the first half.
Meanwhile, the New Orleans Pelicans have been in a slump as they’ve lost six of their last nine games overall and they will be hoping to bounce back after getting beaten by the Cavaliers in a 113-103 road loss on Monday. CJ McCollum led the team with 25 points, Jonas Valanciunas added 22 points with 13 rebounds on seven of nine shooting while Trey Murphy chipped in with 17 points. As a team, the Pelicans shot 50 percent from the field and 10 of 27 from the 3-point line as they got off to a quick start and led for most of the contest, before they let it all go to waste in the fourth quarter where they allowed the Cavaliers to explode for 35 points. Ball handling was an issue as the Pelicans finished with 17 turnovers for the match and they just couldn’t defend without fouling, sending the Cavaliers to the line with regularity.
Looking at the betting trends, the Heat are 4-0 ATS in their last four games against a team with a winning record and 7-2 ATS in their last nine games after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game. The Pelicans are 0-6 ATS in their last six games against a team with a winning record and 6-1 ATS in their last seven home games against a team with a losing road record.
Head to head, the under is 7-1 in the last eight meetings overall, the Heat are 17-5 ATS in the last 22 meetings overall and the Heat are 6-1 ATS in the last seven meetings in New Orleans.
The Heat are shorthanded again as Duncan Robinson is still out while Kyle Lowry is listed as questionable. The Pelicans are still missing their big guns as Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson are both out while Herbert Jones is considered doubtful. The Heat have been one of the form teams of the league despite dealing with injuries all season and they are 17-5 ATS in the last 22 meetings overall, so I’ll take the Heat in this spot.
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Peter’s Pick Miami -1.5
AUTHOR: Peter Tran
Mitch's Take...
