Miami at New Orleans

Miami has good balance with All-Star guard Goran Dragic, James Johnson heating up, along with center Hassan Whiteside, who recorded five straight double-doubles before the break. After it leaves New Orleans, Miami plays five straight at home, with four against teams that entered the break below .500. That's part of a closing stretch playing 15 of the team's final 23 games at home, so they are in great shape to improve on their playoff positioning. Miami is third in the NBA defensively in points allowed, plus Top 8 in field goal shooting defense and three-point defense. By contrast, New Orleans is #29 in the league in points allowed (only Phoenix is worse). New Orleans is 4-5 straight up since losing standout big man DeMarcus Cousins for the season. The Pelicans are 4-4 straight up the last eight times they've been favored or pick 'em, including home losses to the Kings, Clippers and Utah, the latter a 133-109 blowout. This is a great matchup for the better defensive squad to get the straight up victory as a dog. Play Miami.