Miami Heat at New Orleans Pelicans NBA Picks & Predictions 2/23/2018

Friday, February 23, 2018

Smoothie King Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Miami Heat head to Smoothie King Center to take on the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday, February 23, 2018. The opening line for this game has New Orleans as 2.5 point favorites.

The Heat head into this matchup with a mark of 30-28. They are 2nd in the Southeast Division. They currently have a point differential of -0.9 as they are averaging 100.5 points per contest while giving up 101.4 per game. The Pelicans have an overall mark of 31-26. They currently are 3rd in the Southwest Division. They are averaging 111.3 points per contest and giving up 111.2, which is a point differential of 0.1.

Valuable Miami Heat Betting Trends

The Miami Heat are 28-27-3 against the spread

The Miami Heat are 24-32-2 against the over/under

Important New Orleans Pelicans Betting Trends

The New Orleans Pelicans are 30-27-0 against the spread

The New Orleans Pelicans are 33-24-0 against the over/under

Key Miami Heat Injuries

02/21/18 C Kelly Olynyk Shoulder is downgraded to doubtful Friday vs New Orleans
01/12/18 G Dion Waiters Ankle is out for season

Key New Orleans Pelicans Injuries

10/20/17 C Alexis Ajinca Knee is out indefinitely
10/14/17 F Solomon Hill Hamstring is out indefinitely
01/27/18 F DeMarcus Cousins Achilles is out for season

Player Spotlight

Hassan Whiteside comes into this game averaging 14.2 points per contest while playing 25.7 minutes per night so far this year. He grabs 11.9 rebounds per contest and distributes 0.8 assists per game. His FG percentage is 55% while his free throw percentage is 73%. Goran Dragic averages 17.4 points per contest in 31.8 minutes per game this year. He averages 4.7 assists per game and 4 rebounds per contest for Miami. His field goal percentage is 44% for the season while his free throw percentage is 77%.

Player Spotlight

Anthony Davis has scored 27.4 points per contest while playing 36.4 minutes per game this season for the Pelicans. He hauls in 10.7 rebounds per contest and has 2.4 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 54% and his free throw percentage is at 82%. Jrue Holiday averages 18.6 points per game this year and he's on the court an average of 36.7 minutes per game. He also brings in 4.3 rebounds per game and 5.5 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 49% and his free throw percentage is 79%.

Useful Team Statistics

Miami averages 100.5 points per contest this year, which is 28th in the league. Their average scoring margin is -0.9 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a unit, which has them ranked 21st. From 3-point territory they shoot 36%, which is good for 17th in the NBA. They average 42.6 boards per contest and 21.8 assists per game, which ranks them 20th and 23rd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 10th with 14.9 per game. The Heat allow 101.4 points per contest which is 3rd in the NBA. They also surrender a 45% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 8th and 9th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 42 rebounds a game which ranks 7th, and they allow 20.2 assists per game which puts them in 1st place in the league. They force 13.4 turnovers per game which ranks them 4th in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

New Orleans is 4th in the NBA with 111.3 points per contest this season. They are 2nd in the league in shooting at 48%, while their average scoring margin is 0.16. They shoot 37% from beyond the arc, which is good for 13th in the league. They are 17th in the NBA in rebounding with 43.5 boards per contest and 2nd in assists per game with 26.4. The Pelicans are 6th in turnovers per contest with 15.4. The Pelicans give up 111.2 points per game, which ranks them 29th in the league. Their defense is surrendering a 46% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 14th and 15th in those defensive statistics. They rank 24th with 24.3 dimes allowed per game and 24th with 44.8 boards surrendered per contest. The Pelicans are 19th in the league in forcing turnovers with 14.7 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Heat are 25th in the league in defensive rating with 106.5, and their offensive rating of 105.6 is ranked 25th. They are 28th in the NBA in pace with 94.9 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 15th. As a unit they are 17th in the league in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 37% of their shot attempts, ranking 6th in the NBA. Miami is 4th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.7 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 51%, which is 24th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

New Orleans is 7th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.8 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.9 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 52%, which is 16th in the NBA. The Pelicans are 10th in the league in defensive rating with 109.4, and their offensive rating of 109.6 is ranked 11th. They are 3rd in the NBA in pace with 99.9 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 54% is 4th. As a unit they are 4th in the league in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 34% of their shot attempts, ranking 14th in the NBA.

Who will win tonight's Heat/Pelicans NBA game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take Miami +2.5

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