Heat vs. Pelicans Prediction
Despite being a .500 team on the season, the New Orleans Pelicans have been very tough to beat at home. Will the Pelicans cruise to another win at home tonight when they host the Miami Heat at 7PM ET?
525 Miami Heat at 526 New Orleans Pelicans
Sunday, December 16, 2018
7PM ET – Smoothie King Center
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Public Betting Trends
According to oddsmakers at BetNow.eu, the Pelicans are favored at home tonight, as they are getting odds of -6.5 points against the Heat. The over/under total is listed at 221.5 points. The public betting currently has 54 percent going on the Heat as the road underdog. This information is subject to change, however, so be sure to check out our NBA Public Betting Page for updated figures on the game.
Heat on long road trip
The Heat are playing their sixth straight road game tonight. They are 3-2 on this road stand thus far, including a 100-97 win at Memphis on Friday. The Heat are 12-16 on the season, 7-7 on the road, 14-14 against the spread and 15-13 with the over.
Miami is averaging just 107 points per game on offense this season and shooting only 43.3 percent from the field. Defensively, the Heat are giving up 108.1 points per game while holding opponents to 44.6 percent shooting. The Team will be without Goran Dragic today due to a knee injury and Dwyane Wade may sit this one out for a rest day. Josh Richardson is leading the team with 18.5 points per game while Hassan Whiteside is adding 13.2 points, 13.4 rebounds and 2.87 blocks per contest.
Pelicans looking for win streak
New Orleans has been alternating wins and losses for weeks and is coming off a 118-114 win over Oklahoma City on Wednesday. The Pelicans are now 15-15 overall, 11-4 at home, 14-16 against the spread and 16-14 with the over.
The Pelicans are putting up 117.4 points per game on offense this season, which ranks second in the NBA. They are also fourth in shooting, hitting 48 percent of their shots. Defensively, the Pelicans aren’t great. New Orleans is giving up 115.5 points per game. The team lost Nikola Mirotic indefinitely with an ankle injury in the last week and E’Twaun Moore is questionable for tonight’s game with a leg injury. Anthony Davis is leading the team with 28.1 points and 12.4 rebounds per game while Jrue Holiday is adding 20.5 points and 8.9 assists per contest.
NBA Betting Trends
Miami
The Heat have covered the spread in six of their last seven road games and in four of their last five following a win.
New Orleans
The Pelicans have failed to cover in four straight following a win and in five straight following a cover.
Prediction:
The Pelicans have been predictable in terms of losing after a win, but I feel something has to give sooner or later. The Pelicans are at home tonight and facing a team that has been away from home for weeks. Miami is a little beat up and road weary, while the Pelicans have had three days off and should have fresh legs. The Pelicans are too good to continue to lose these types of games. I think they will run past Miami early and cruise to a big win.
NBA Prediction: New Orleans Pelicans -6.5