New Orleans Pelicans vs Miami Heat Prediction NBA Picks 1/1/25

New Orleans Pelicans 

The New Orleans Pelicans have been in dreadful form as they've lost 28 of their first 33 games, and they will be hoping to put a halt to a 10-game losing streak after falling just short to the Clippers in a 116-113 home defeat on Monday. CJ McCollum drained eight 3-pointers to lead the way with 33 points on 12 of 25 shooting, Herbert Jones and Trey Murphy scored 18 points each while Dejounte Murray chipped in with 13 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists, and six steals. As a team, the Pelicans shot 51 percent from the field and 18 of 37 from the 3-point line as they set the tone with 37 points in the first quarter to build an early 14-point lead. The Pels allowed the Clippers to hang around and it cost them in the end as the Pelicans went cold in the fourth quarter to suffer another defeat and fall to 4-14 at home this season. The Pels will take on the Wizards in a b2b set after this game.

Miami Heat 

Meanwhile, the Miami Heat have been in decent form as they've won three of their past four games overall, and they will be looking to maintain that momentum after outlasting the Rockets in a 104-100 road win on Sunday. Tyler Herro led the team with 27 points and nine assists on 10 of 17 shooting, Nikola Jovic added 18 points, seven rebounds and six assists off the bench while Haywood Highsmith chipped in with 18 points, eight rebounds, and two assists. As a team, the Heat shot 44 percent from the field and 10 of 33 from the 3-point line, but this win was more about their defense as they trailed for most of the contest until the fourth quarter where they held the Rockets to just eight points in the final 8:09 to escape with the gritty road win. 

New Orleans Pelicans vs Miami Heat Prediction

The Pelicans are still without Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamson, and Jose Alverado, while the Heat have ruled out Josh Richardson, and they have Duncan Robinson listed as questionable. The Pelicans haven't had anything to cheer about lately, but they were more than competitive in their narrow loss to the Clippers in their last game. The Heat come into this game as the team in better form, and they would've taken plenty of confidence from their hard-fought win over the Rockets in their last game. I just feel that the line is a bit too high for this one. I am sure the Heat do enough to get the win at home. The Pelicans look much better with Murray back in the lineup, and I think they can hang around and keep this to single digits in the end.