Miami Heat vs New Orleans Pelicans Predictions, NBA Picks Against the Spread 3/6/2020

Game: Miami Heat vs New Orleans Pelicans

Date: Friday, March 6, 2020

Location: Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, LA

TV: Fox Sports New Orleans

Odds/Point Spread: New Orleans -1.5

Total/Over-Under: 235.5

Smoothie King Center is the site where Jrue Holiday and the New Orleans Pelicans (26-36, 5th in the Southwest Division) will play the Miami Heat (40-22, 1st in the Southeast Division) on Friday. Miami opens this matchup as 1.5 point underdogs. The total opens at 235.5.

The Heat cover 53.3% of the time, having gone 32-28-2 ATS. New Orleans is covering 51.7% of the time, going 31-29-2 against the spread.

Key Miami Heat Injuries

02/24/20 PF Meyers Leonard Ankle is out indefinitely
02/11/20 SG Tyler Herro Foot is out indefinitely

Key New Orleans Pelicans Injuries

03/01/20 SG JJ Redick Hamstring is out 2-3 weeks
02/21/20 G Kenrich Williams Back is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Bam Adebayo averages 16.1 points per game in 34.4 minutes per contest. He averages 5.0 assists per contest and 10.5 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 57% for the year while his free throw percentage is 69%. Kendrick Nunn comes into this contest averaging 15.7 points per game while playing 30.0 minutes per night. He pulls down 2.7 rebounds per game and dishes out 3.5 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 45% while his free throw percentage is at 84%.

Player Spotlight

Brandon Ingram averages 24.6 points per game and he sees the court an average of 34.2 minutes per contest. He also averages 6.2 rebounds per contest and 4.3 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage is 86%. Jrue Holiday averages 19.2 points per game while playing 34.9 minutes per contest. He grabs 4.8 rebounds per game and has 6.9 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is at 70%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Heat allow 109.2 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 11th in the league. They also allow a 45% shooting percentage and a 34% average from behind the arc, ranking them 8th and 3rd in those defensive categories. Opponents average 42.1 rebounds a game which ranks 2nd, and they give up 24.8 assists per contest which puts them in 20th place in the league. They force 13.6 turnovers per game which ranks them 7th in the league. Miami averages 112.7 points per contest this season, which ranks them 13th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 3.5 and their shooting percentage is 47% as a team, which has them ranked 6th. Behind the arc they shoot 39% which is good for 1st in the league. They average 44.6 rebounds per game and 26.0 assists per contest, which ranks them 16th and 8th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 15th with 14.8 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Pelicans surrender 117.4 points per contest, which ranks them 28th in the NBA. Their defense allows a 47% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 19th and 18th in those defensive statistics. They rank 17th with 24.7 assists allowed per contest, and 15th with 45.1 rebounds surrendered per game. The Pelicans are 16th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 14.4 per game. New Orleans is 4th in the league with 116.2 points per game this year. They are 12th in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is -1.2. They shoot 37% from 3-point range, which is good for 3rd in the NBA. They are 5th in the league in rebounding with 46.8 boards per game and 3rd in assists per contest with 27.0. The Pelicans are 3rd in turnovers per game with 16.1.

Advanced Statistics

The Heat are 7th in the league in defensive rating with 109.5, and their offensive rating of 113 is ranked 11th. They are 26th in the NBA in pace with 98.2 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 55% is 4th. As a unit they are 1st in the league in true shooting percentage with 59% and they shoot 3-pointers on 41% of their shot attempts, ranking 7th in the NBA. Miami is 9th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.3 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.3 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 52%, which is 17th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

New Orleans is 5th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.3 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 53%, which is 14th in the league. The Pelicans are 15th in the NBA in offensive rating with 110.9, and their defensive rating of 112 is ranked 20th. In terms of pace they are 2nd in the league with 103.7 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 54% is 7th. As a team they are 12th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 41% of their shots, ranking 8th in the league.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Miami +1.5

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here