Heat vs. Pelicans NBA injury report, odds, spread: Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo questionable Thursday; JJ Redick's final game with New Orleans?

The last national TV game of the NBA's first half features the Miami Heat visiting the New Orleans Pelicans with an 8:30 p.m. ET tipoff on TNT. Both teams would like to enter the All-Star break with a bit of momentum, but the Heat could be without their two top players in Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo with both currently listed as questionable. The Pels aren't listing anyone of note on the injury report as of now and have opened as 3.5-point favorites on the William Hill Sportsbook NBA odds.

Just because no one is listed as injured doesn't mean New Orleans won't sit a key player because it's the second of a back-to-back and teams tend to like to give their key guys an extra day off ahead of the All-Star break if at all possible. The Pelicans were 6-point home favorites on Wednesday but upset by Chicago 128-124.

Teams aren't supposed to lose in the NBA when shooting better than 55 percent from the field, but New Orleans shot 55.4 percent. Coach Stan Van Gundy's defense is just awful. In seven of New Orleans' past eight losses, it has allowed at least 123 points.

There is talk this could be the last game with the Pelicans for JJ Redick. It's basically assumed he will be traded by the March 25 deadline, and since Redick will be a free agent the Pels would rather get something for him than watch him walk. Van Gundy didn't use him for weeks, but Redick's value may never be higher than it is now as he had 17 points Monday and then 22 on Wednesday. It would make sense to deal him during the All-Star break – general managers will be talking plenty -- rather than bring him back for a few games after the break and risk Redick getting injured.

Miami had a season-high six-game winning streak end Tuesday, 94-80 vs. Atlanta, playing its second straight game without Butler due right knee inflammation. One would think the Heat would give Butler the entire break to rest and not play him here, but Butler did travel with the club. Adebayo is listed as questionable with left knee soreness.

Butler leads the team in scoring at 20.1 ppg, while Adebayo is second in scoring at 19.2 ppg and leads in rebounds (9.5 rpg), assists (5.4 apg) and blocks (1.0 bpg). Neither will be playing in Sunday's All-Star Game. The Pels' Zion Williamson will be.

The Heat try for the season sweep as they beat the Pelicans 119-98 on Christmas day in South Florida. Duncan Robinson was the unlikely star with seven made three-pointers, tying an NBA Christmas Day record, and 23 points. Adebayo had 17 and Butler just four points in 16 minutes as he didn't play in the second half due to a minor injury. Zion had 32 points and 14 rebounds in the loss. 

Miami is 5-1 against the spread in the past six meetings. 

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