Game time: 7 p.m., Smoothie King Center, New Orleans  

TV: FanDuel Sports Network 

Betting line: Heat +1.5

VITALS:  

The Heat and Pelicans meet for the second and final regular season matchup. Earlier this season, Miami recorded a 19-point, 125-106, win on January 4. Last season the Heat swept the series, 2-0, and has currently won 10 of the last 11 overall against New Orleans. The Heat are 29-21 all-time versus the Pelicans during the regular season, including 19-7 in home games and 10-14 in road games. Pelicans forward Zion Williamson is ranked 2nd in points in the paint per game with 15.6. Center Derik Queen  was selected to compete in the 2026 Rising Stars competition during All-Star Weekend. In a recent victory, the Pelicans outshot the Kings converting 47-of-87 (.540) from the floor and 16-of-39 (.410) from three-point range, while Sacramento only shot 40-of-99 (.404) from the floor and 4-of-31 (.129) from behind the arc. Heat center Bam Adebayo has posted 21 double-doubles this season, his seventh-straight season registering at least 20, the longest streak in team history.

PROJECTED STARTERS

HEAT

F Bam Adebayo 

F Andrew Wiggins

C Kel'el Ware

G Simone Fontecchio 

G Davion Mitchell

PELICANS

F Zion Williamson 

F Saddiq Bey 

C Derik Queen

G Trey Murphy 

G Herb Jones 

INJUY REPORT

HEAT

Tyler Herro: Out (ribs)

Terry Rozier: Out (Not with team)

Keshad Johnson: Out (G League)

Vladislav Goldin: Out (G League)

Pelle Larsson: Out (Elbow)

Andrew Wiggins: Questionable (Toe)

Norman Powell: Out (Back)

PELICANS

Trey Alexander: Out (G League)

Hunter Dickinson: Out (G League)

Dejounte Murray: Out (Achilles)

Micah Peavy: Questionable (Toe)

QUOTABLE 

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra on rookie Kasparas Jakucionis: "It means a lot [to have that trust]. I got a pretty open shot, I would say. I had to make it, but it didn't happen. Now it's in the past. You can't change the past, but you can change the future with your actions."

Pelicans guard Trey Murphy on not being chosen for the 3-point contest during NBA All-Star Weekend: "I would have participated if I was invited. "I'll let y'all be the judge of that [if he was snubbed]."

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Shandel Richardson is the publisher of HeatRoundtable. He can be reached at shandelrich@gmail.com