There’s no love lost between the New Orleans Pelicans and the Miami Heat. There’s no love at all. Especially not after the most recent meeting between the two, as multiple players were suspended as a result of a slight scuffle at the end of Miami’s 11-point victory in the Smoothie King Center.
The Pelicans now head to Miami wounded after losing Brandon Ingram in the third quarter of Thursday night’s loss to the Orlando. To say that the Heat have been successful against the Pels is an understatement. Miami has beaten New Orleans seven consecutive times, winning 13 of their last 17 games against the Pelicans overall.
The Pels haven’t won on South Beach since Dec. of 2017.
Now, they’ll attempt to do so without Ingram, who has averaged 18.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 4.2 assists in his last five games against the Heat.
While the common refrain might be that everyone on the roster will have to step up to fill the void left by B.I.; it is highly questionable that they are all capable.
The spotlight will shine brightest on Zion Williamson, who has elevated his game on both ends of the floor as of late, showing more of the talent that had him tabbed as the best prospect since LeBron James. Williamson will have to do more than produce numbers, he’ll have to lead.
Trey Murphy III has a golden opportunity to show the world if he can be a starter in the NBA. Last night against the Magic was the first time that the Pelicans lost all season when Murphy scored 16 or more points. Can Trey consistently get his shots and influence the game defensively as a starter? We’ll see.
Pelicans fans will look to two players in particular, rookie Jordan Hawkins and sniper Matt Ryan, to provide the scoring off the bench that Murphy did. At least that should be the hope.
As of right now, hope seems to be all the Pelicans have if they want to beat the Heat.
Most Recent Starting Lineups
| New Orleans Pelicans | Miami Heat |
| G – CJ McCollum | G – Patty Mills |
| G – Herb Jones | G – Terry Rozier III |
| F – Brandon Ingram | F – Jimmy Butler |
| F – Zion Williamson | F – Nikola Jovic |
| C – Jonas Valanciunas | C – Thomas Bryant |
Injuries
New Orleans Pelicans: Dyson Daniels (left knee meniscectomy) and Brandon Ingram (left knee bone contusion) are OUT.
Miami Heat: Bam Adebayo (back) is QUESTIONABLE. Tyler Herro (foot), Kevin Love (heel), and Duncan Robinson are OUT.
Who: New Orleans Pelicans (42-27) at Miami Heat (38-31)
Season Series
- Feb. 23: Heat def. Pelicans, 106-95
- Mar. 22: Pelicans at Heat
Where: Kaseya Center
When: Mar. 22, 7:00 PM CDT
Where to watch: WVUE/Gray Television
Where to listen: WRNO 99.5
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READ MORE
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- Foul Trouble: Why Doesn’t Zion Get the Star Treatment From NBA Refs?
- Pelicans Head To Big Apple Seeking To Snap 2-Game Skid
- Points at a Premium as Pelicans Offense Finds Its Way
- How Can the Pelicans Get the Most Out of Zion & BI When They Don’t Share the Floor?
- The Future of the Pelicans May Hinge on Whether Zion & B.I. Can Make the Leap to Elite Duo
- Will Missing Dyson Daniels Damage the Pelicans’ Playoff Push?
- Pelicans Begin Critical 4-Game Home Stand Against Woeful Wizards
- Pelicans Can Move 10 Games Above .500 For First Time Since 2018 With Win Over Lakers
