It’s a battle of two teams who went to the All-Star break hot. The New Orleans Pelicans have maintained that run with yesterday’s win.

Catch the game tomorrow at 9:00 AM, Manila time.

AWAY: Miami Heat (30-25, 15-12 AWAY)

Projected starting five:

• Terry Rozier
• Tyler Herro
• Jimmy Butler
• Caleb Martin
• Bam Adebayo

The Heat continue their climb back following an ugly seven-game losing streak in late January. They are now 6-2 across their last eight contests, averaging 111.9 points per game and only giving up 102.6 in return during that span.

The team’s lone All-Star this year, Bam Adebayo (20.2 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 4.2 APG, 1.1 SPG, 1.0 BPG), will take the main spotlight. He has scored 20 or more points in three of his last four games and 10 or more rebounds in his previous three. 

His main partner, multiple-time All-Star Jimmy Butler (21.4 PPG, 1.6 SPG), is expected to be back after missing the last three games before the break. Sweet-shooting guard Tyler Herro (21.0 PPG) rounds out Miami’s trio.

Recent acquisition Terry Rozier, rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr., inside-out threat Caleb Martin, and sharpshooter Duncan Robinson will continue backing up the trio.

HOME: New Orleans Pelicans (34-22, 17-10 HOME)

Projected starting five:

• CJ McCollum
• Brandon Ingram (day-to-day)
• Herb Jones
• Zion Williamson (day-to-day)
• Jonas Valanciunas

The Pelicans are currently one of the hottest teams in the league. With Friday’s 127-105 win over the Houston Rockets, they are now 8-1 in their last nine games, averaging 116.7 points and allowing just 106.6 in return.

Zion Williamson leads all Pels players in that stretch with 25.3 PPG on 56.3% shooting, alongside a surprising 6.4 assists. However, since tomorrow’s the second night of a back-to-back, there’s a chance he may sit the game out. 

But, there’s little room to sweat it out as they are a deep squad. Brandon Ingram (21.4 PPG), CJ McCollum (19.0 PPG), and Jonas Valanciunas (13.7 PPG) should be able to pick up the slack easily – Ingram was sidelined in the Rockets contest due to an illness, but he could return tomorrow.

Other than all that, there’s solid defender Herb Jones, likewise ‘3 and D’ Trey Murphy III, rookie Jordan Hawkins, and pesky guard Jose Alvarado, making it an interesting matchup opposite a scrappy Heat team.

PREDICTIONS:

Handicap: The Pelicans (-3) don’t cover.

Over/Under: The total goes over 223.