The Miami Heat came into New Orleans looking to stay competitive in the playoff hunt before the all-star break.
A Bam Adebayo-led Heat team won this game from the get-go, routing the short-handed Pelicans from the jump. New Orleans did what they could to try and stay close to Miami but it was to no avail as the Heat found a new gear and kept their foot on the gas for the duration of the game.
Identity Crisis
The whistle blew and Miami was out for blood. Coming off a tough loss against Atlanta on Monday, the Heat looked to bounce back and not let their recent success fall to the wayside. Miami has been “out of sorts” so far this season and has recently seemed to find their footing. Finding their identity has been an issue for the Heat. This blowout of the Pelicans helped determine the toughness and grit that Miami is capable of.
Buckle Down
Bam Adebayo led the way for the Heat. Adebayo dropped 26 points on super efficient shooting numbers, going 11-of-15 and knocking down every mid-range jumper in sight. The entirety of the Heat roster contributed to the victory in a well-rounded game by all. Seven out of the 10 Heat players who checked in and suited up for the game scored in double figures, creating a difficulty that the Pelicans couldn’t keep up with.
Left In the Dust
The Pelicans were without their two stars in Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram. The Pelicans’ offense centers around their presence and ability to score the rock. Their absence has created some continuity and flow problems for the Pelicans which was evident against Miami.
The Pelicans couldn’t contain the all-around attack that Miami put up and let the Heat gain an early lead and never let that go. The Pelicans drop to 26-19 which is the fourth seed in the West, while Miami improves to 25-21 which places them as the seventh seed in the East.
Up Next
Miami looks to build on this momentum as their road trip continues. The Heat take on Luka Doncic and the Mavericks on Friday night.