Miami Heat at New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday, January 2 is about as close to a coin flip as the ratings get, with the Pelicans at only 54%. Small things like rest, health and shooting variance should decide it.
Why it is so close
The Win Meter reads the Pelicans 54%, with a projected score of Miami Heat 113, New Orleans Pelicans 114. The rating gap is 75 points in favor of the Heat, and home court and rest add about 100 rating points for the Pelicans on top of that.
Readings in this range leave plenty of room for the other side. About 46 times in 100 games like this, the Heat would win.
Recent form
The Heat are 0-2 this season and 2-3 in their last 5 games, with an average margin of +1.2. The Pelicans are 0-2 this season and 1-4 in their last 5 games, with an average margin of -3.4.
The Heat's best recent win was 143-117 at home against ATL.
The Heat were beaten 131-106 at home by MIN not long ago.
The Pelicans' best recent win was 156-137 at home against UTA.
The Pelicans were beaten 144-118 on the road by BOS not long ago.
Injuries to watch
Day to day or questionable: Yves Missi (NOP). Their status can change before tip-off.
The season series
In our records of recent meetings, the Heat lead 4-0, with the Heat outscoring the Pelicans by an average of 22.7 points per game. The last meeting was MIA 123, NOP 111.