Heat (26-22), Pelicans (26-21)
New Orleans and Miami weren’t wearing retro uniforms Sunday, but they played the kind of game more suited to a previous era of the NBA, a grudge match featuring hard-nosed defense and low point totals. After an odd final 20 seconds of regulation, the Heat came away with a come-from-behind victory. New Orleans held a lead on the scoreboard much of the afternoon, but Miami gained momentum and didn't take its first edge until late in the third quarter. Trailing by two points with 15 seconds left, the Pelicans were called for a five-second inbound violation, giving the Heat the ball back. However, New Orleans rookie Dyson Daniels forced a held ball on Miami’s ensuing inbound pass, leading to a jump ball won by Daniels against Jimmy Butler. The five-second violation was NOLA’s 25th turnover, a very costly factor in the loss.
IT WAS OVER WHEN…
Down 98-96, CJ McCollum came up just short on a three-point attempt that would’ve given New Orleans a lead, before Victor Oladipo sank two free throws with 6 seconds left, sealing the outcome. The Pelicans misfired right before the final buzzer from three-point range.
PELICANS PLAYER OF THE GAME
The center duo of Jonas Valanciunas and Larry Nance Jr. provided the visitors with some excellent play in a variety of areas (defense in the paint, scoring, rebounding). Statistically, Valanciunas contributed another double-double (14 points, 16 rebounds), at times grabbing boards with multiple Miami players surrounding him. Nance’s all-around performance included 12 points, seven rebounds, four assists, four steals and a block.
BY THE NUMBERS
10-0: Miami end-of-first-half run that drastically changed momentum, turning a 16-point deficit into just a six-point margin (47-41).
5: Career-high steals in only 17 minutes of action for Devonte’ Graham, who was disruptive in passing lanes and turned one steal into a halfcourt buzzer-beating three to cap the first quarter.
REVISITING FANDUEL KEYS TO THE GAME
ON-BALL DEFENSE
The defense was mostly excellent when it had a chance to get set, but allowed Miami to produce easy baskets when the Heat were taking turnovers the other way in transition.
CRUNCH TIME
For a third straight road game, New Orleans took a three-point lead into the fourth quarter but was outscored in the final stanza, this time by a 31-24 count.
MATCHUP TO WATCH
Bam Adebayo didn’t do as much damage this time (18 points, nine boards) as he did Wednesday (26-8 at NOLA), but was still a major factor. Valanciunas went for 14 and 16, while Nance and Jaxson Hayes filled prominent frontcourt reserve roles.