New Orleans faces Miami, seeks to halt 5-game slide

By  THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
 
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Miami Heat (36-44, 10th in the Eastern Conference) vs. New Orleans Pelicans (21-59, 14th in the Western Conference)

New Orleans; Friday, 8 p.m. EDT

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Heat -13; over/under is 215

BOTTOM LINE: New Orleans comes into the matchup against Miami as losers of five games in a row.

The Pelicans are 14-25 on their home court. New Orleans ranks fifth in the Western Conference with 12.1 offensive rebounds per game led by Yves Missi averaging 3.5.

The Heat are 17-23 in road games. Miami ranks seventh in the league allowing only 110.0 points while holding opponents to 46.6% shooting.

The Pelicans are shooting 45.4% from the field this season, 1.2 percentage points lower than the 46.6% the Heat allow to opponents. The Heat’s 46.3% shooting percentage from the field this season is 2.0 percentage points lower than the Pelicans have given up to their opponents (48.3%).

TOP PERFORMERS: Jose Alvarado is averaging 10.2 points and 4.7 assists for the Pelicans. Antonio Reeves is averaging 12.9 points over the last 10 games.

Bam Adebayo is averaging 18 points, 9.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists for the Heat. Tyler Herro is averaging 25.2 points and 4.5 assists over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Pelicans: 2-8, averaging 106.6 points, 44.4 rebounds, 28.0 assists, 8.1 steals and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 47.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 117.8 points per game.

Heat: 7-3, averaging 116.9 points, 43.9 rebounds, 27.1 assists, 9.4 steals and 3.6 blocks per game while shooting 49.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 105.0 points.

INJURIES: Pelicans: Jose Alvarado: day to day (calf), Brandon Boston Jr.: day to day (ankle), Trey Murphy III: out for season (shoulder), Herbert Jones: out for season (shoulder), Kelly Olynyk: day to day (achilles), Yves Missi: day to day (ankle), CJ McCollum: out for season (foot), Jordan Hawkins: day to day (back), Dejounte Murray: out for season (leg), Zion Williamson: out for season (back), Bruce Brown: day to day (knee).

Heat: Dru Smith: out for season (achilles), Pelle Larsson: out (ankle), Isaiah Stevens: day to day (foot), Nikola Jovic: day to day (hand), Kevin Love: out (personal).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.