Can the Miami Heat Blaze Past the Pelicans at Smoothie King Center?

As the Miami Heat prepare to take on the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center, fans are eager to see if their team can carry forward their recent momentum. The Heat's performance in their last few games has been a roller coaster of highs and lows, but there are positive signs that suggest they could come out on top in this upcoming clash.

In their most recent game against the Boston Celtics on February 11, despite a loss with a score of 106-110, Miami showed resilience. They managed to draw fouls effectively and capitalized on them by shooting an impressive 93 percent from the free-throw line. Their points in paint stood at 50, indicating aggressive play under the basket – something they'll need against New Orleans.

The February 8 game against San Antonio Spurs was a testament to what Miami is capable of when firing on all cylinders. Dominating with a score of 116-104, they led for over three-quarters of game time and showcased depth with bench players contributing 33 points. Their defensive prowess was also evident as they held Spurs' offensive possessions to just under one point per possession.

Against Orlando Magic on February 7, it was clear that when Miami gets going, they're hard to stop. A commanding win with a scoreline of 121-95 featured an offensive clinic where every aspect clicked – from fast breaks (27 points) to second-chance points (10). The Heat's offense outshined Orlando's throughout each quarter.

However, facing off against New Orleans will be no easy task. The Pelicans have shown themselves capable adversaries and will look to exploit any weaknesses in Miami’s armor. It will be crucial for MIA’s defense to step up and replicate or exceed their performance from previous games while maintaining efficiency from both field goals and free throws.

The key matchup will likely be inside where MIA must assert dominance early on both ends of the floor if they wish to control the pace of the game as successfully as before. Rebounding could play a pivotal role; thus far MIA has shown tenacity offensively grabbing boards which could lead them towards more second-chance opportunities.

Heat fans should mark their calendars for February 23 at 8:00 PM Eastern Time when these two teams face off in New Orleans – it promises to be an exciting encounter between two competitive sides vying for victory. For those unable to attend live action can catch broadcast coverage provided by BSSUN channel number 653 ensuring not a moment is missed from this thrilling matchup.