New Orleans Pelicans
Overall Record: 8-23
Head to Head Matchups: 1 (Miami 109-94)
Eye Test: The Miami Heat took care of the Pelicans in their one and only matchup thus far this season. This team is exciting to watch play but still lacks the talent on both ends to compete at the highest level.
Like everybody else in the sports world, the New Orleans Pelicans are still waiting on Zion Williamson to hit the floor for the first time ever in a regular-season NBA contest. Who knows when he’ll play, but that’s all they have to look forward to at this exact moment.
Denver Nuggets
Overall Record: 21-8
Head to Head Matchups: 1 (Denver 89-109)
Eye Test: The Miami Heat were playing in Denver for their one and only matchup this season, where the elevation gets everyone. While that is no excuse, nor for certain accurate, this Miami Heat team looked noticeably sluggish in that contest. It wasn’t the second night of a back to back set, so that is the only thing that could have accounted for it.
In any event and as fatigue is no excuse, this Denver Nugget team can be had as well. They haven’t been as good as they were last year yet, but they still look to have the potential to get back there. The next time they face off is in March, but in Miami, where the Heat will have them at their preferred elevation.
This is the scenario, there are 10 teams listed above that play on Christmas day and the Miami Heat have beaten 60 percent of them. As the Miami Heat legend said, teams should be rewarded Christmas day games, there should be some flexibility built into it.
Regardless, we are appreciative for a 22-8 Heat team. They have a tough back to back set on Friday and Saturday, facing the Indiana Pacers before welcoming in the Philadelphia 76ers for their third matchup of the season, but for the first time in South Beach.