Heat at Pelicans Predictions: Will New Orleans Stay Hot off Break? 2/23/18

Heat vs. Pelicans Prediction

Two playoff hopefuls will square off in New Orleans tonight when the Pelicans host the Heat as a small home favorite at 8:00 p.m. ET. Will New Orleans stay out coming out of the All-Star break?

CURRENT ODDS

According to oddsmakers from online sportsbook YouWager, the Pelicans are 2-point road favorites to beat the Heat tonight in New Orleans. The total currently sits at 214.5.

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LINE MOVEMENT

The Pelicans opened as a 3-point home favorite at some online books and are either -2.5 or -2 now, depending on what books your viewing. Thus, there is some reverse line movement at play here but not every book listed New Orleans as a 3-point favorite to start.

PUBLIC BETTING

As of this writing, 59% of betting tickets wagered at online sportsbooks are on the Pelicans. The majority of the money is also on the over for this matchup.

KEY INJURY TO WATCH

Outside of Dion Waiters (ankle, out for the year), the Heat are realatively healthy. DeMarcus Cousins (Achilles) is out for the year for the Pelicans.

BETTING STRATEGY

There's a chance that the All-Star break killed New Orleans' momentum but I'm not buying that narrative when it comes to this matchup. The Pelicans went 1-5 in their first five games after losing the big man Cousins for the season but rolled off three consecutive wins before the break. The Heat, meanwhile, dropped seven of their final eight games prior to All-Star week, including five straight on the road. Even without Cousins, the Pelicans are playing better ball right now and I love the price on the home team.

 

OUR PREDICTION: NEW ORLEANS PELICANS -2