Heat-Pelicans Injury Report: Several Key Players Sidelined

The New Orleans Pelicans have ruled out Yves Missi, Kelly Olynyk, Bruce Brown Jr. and Jordan Hawkins, along with many others, ahead of their game against the Miami Heat tonight. Additionally, Jose Alvarado and Karlo Matkovic were listed as questionable.

On Thursday, the Heat ruled out rookie forward Pelle Larsson, listed Tyler Herro and Alec Burks as probable and two-way guard Isaiah Stevens as questionable. Larsson, the Heat's second round pick, sprained his ankle while weightlifting ahead of the game against the Chicago Bulls Wednesday. Herro, averaging about 24 points, has a thigh contusion while starter Alec Burks is dealing with lower back discomfort.

Here's the rest of the injury report and game preview:

HEAT

Pelle Larsson: Out - Hamstring

Tyler Herro: Probable - Thigh

Alec Burks: Probable - Back

Kevin Love: Out - Personal Reasons

Nikola Jovic: Out - Hand

Isaiah Stevens: Questionable - Foot

Dru Smith: Out - Achilles

PELICANS

Jose Alvarado: Questionable - Hip

Karlo Matkovic: Questionable - Hamstring

Bruce Brown: Out - Knee

Yves Missi: Out - Ankle

Jordan Hawkins: Out - Back

Kelly Olynyk: Out - Achilles

CJ McCollum: Out - Foot

Zion Williamson: Out - Back

Trey Murphy: Out - Shoulder

Herb Jones: Out - Shoulder

Dejounte Murray: Out - Achilles

How To Watch Miami Heat-New Orleans Pelicans, Lineups, Injury Report, Betting Line

Game time: 8 p.m., Smoothie King Center, New Orleans

Betting line: Heat -15.5, DraftKings

VITALS: : The Heat and Pelicans meet for the second and final regular season matchup this season. The Heat won the first matchups 119-108 on Jan. 1. The Heat won eight of their last ten matchups against the Pelicans. The Heat are 27-21 all-time versus the Pelicans during the regular season, including 18-7 in home games and 9-14 in road games.

PROJECTED STARTERS

HEAT

G Tyler Herro

G Alec Burks

C Kel'el Ware

F Andrew Wiggins

F Bam Adebayo

PELICANS

G Elfrid Payton

G Antonio Reeves

C Jeremiah Robinson-Earl

F Keion Brooks Jr.

F Karlo Matkovic

QUOTABLE

Heat guard Tyler Herro: "I think we've just been doing a better job at taking other people's punch and, you know we gotta understand that they're gonna go on runs, that's how basketball is and just get back to what we were doing that made us successful and can't get bored with doing the right stuff over and over again."

Alexander Toledo is a contributor to Miami Heat On SI and producer/co-host of the Five on the Floor podcast, covering the Heat and NBA. He can be reached at toledoalexander22@gmail.com. Twitter: @tropicalblanket