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GAME PREVIEW: Heat return home to face Pelicans

The Miami Heat will host the New Orleans Pelicans in the first set of a back-to-back

By Matt Pineda
/ new
Miami Heat v Oklahoma City Thunder Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images

GAME STORY

The Miami Heat return home after a 5-game and 8-day road trip out west they have them at 9-5 on the season. They’ll place a back-to-back home set before hitting the road again. Their opponent tonight is the New Orleans Pelicans (2-13) who have lost 5 straight games.

This matchup may be determined by who plays. The Heat was without Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo in their last matchup but managed a win. And as weird as it seems, the Pelicans with Brandon Ingram could be a tough matchup if Jimmy Butler doesn’t play. Ingram is averaging 25 PPG but he did miss 2+ weeks with an injury before returning earlier this weekend.

The first home game after a road trip can always be tricky, but hopefully, a healthy Heat team can get out there and play well. The Heat will have the Wizards at home tomorrow night.

The Pelicans are one of the lower scoring teams in the NBA at 102 PPG (26th). The Heat currently has the best point differential in the East at +7.1. The key for the team is to dominate the glass against the Pelicans.

The KEY MATCHUP is going to be Jimmy Butler vs Brandon Ingram. But likely for Miami, PJ Tucker will take a lot of that one on one defensive assignment, freeing Butler (if he plays) to focus on passing lanes and help defense. Miami can guard Ingram 1-5 with the exception of Duncan Robinson, so the Heat will have a lot of flexibility in what they do.

HEAT VS PELICANS: WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17 AT 7:30 P.M.

INJURIES

MIAMI:

  • Victor Oladipo - out (knee; surgery rehab)
  • Markieff Morris - out (whiplash)
  • Jimmy Butler - questionable (sprained ankle)
  • Bam Adebayo - probable (knee)

NEW ORLEANS:

  • Zion Williamson - out (knee)
  • Daulton Hommes - out (leg)

LINEUPS

Projected Starters

Clippers Position Heat
Clippers Position Heat
Reggie Jackson PG Kyle Lowry
Paul George SG Tyler Herro
Kawhi Leonard SF Jimmy Butler
Marcus Morris Sr. PF Caleb Martin
Ivica Zubac C Bam Adebayo

BROADCAST INFO

TV: Bally Sports Sun
RADIO: The Ticket 790AM & The HEAT Radio Network (Jason Jackson, Ruth Riley Hunter)
SPANISH RADIO: WAQI 710AM & The HEAT Spanish Radio Network (José Pañeda, Joe Pujala)

Come back to Hot Hot Hoops at game time to join our GameThread and chat about the game live with other Heat fans!

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