Heat handle Pelicans for 4th straight win

Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo each scored 29 points and Kyle Lowry recorded a triple-double as the visiting Miami Heat won their fourth consecutive game by defeating the New Orleans Pelicans, 112-97, on Thursday, February 10 (Friday, February 11, Manila time).

Lowry finished with 14 points, 11 assists, and 11 rebounds, and Adebayo added 10 rebounds. Dewayne Dedmon added 11 points and Duncan Robinson 10 as the East-leading Heat finished 4-2 on a six-game trip.

Jose Alvarado came off the bench to score 17 points for the Pelicans, who saw their four-game winning streak end. Jonas Valanciunas and Devonte’ Graham scored 16 each and Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum, making his Pelicans debut, had 15 each.

McCollum, the central figure in a seven-player trade with Portland on Tuesday, made just 6-of-21 shots, including 2-of-10 three-pointers.

Miami scored the first 7 points of the third quarter to take a 63-55 lead. New Orleans got within 4 points four times before the Heat pushed the lead to 76-65 on a three-pointer by Max Strus.

Alvarado scored the Pelicans’ next 6 points and fed Jaxson Hayes for a dunk, but Miami still held an 83-73 lead at the end of the third quarter.

New Orleans scored the first 3 points of the fourth quarter, but the Heat quickly rebuilt the lead to 11.

Alvarado and Graham each made a three-pointer to cut the lead to 4, but Miami scored the next 5 points for a 101-92 lead and coasted home.

The Heat shot 55.6% (10-of-18) and held a 27-24 lead at the end of the first period as the Pelicans shot 36% (9-of-25).

McCollum’s first three-pointer started the second-quarter scoring and pulled New Orleans even. Miami led by 7 points on two occasions before another three-pointer by McCollum tied the score at 42.

Graham’s three-pointer gave the Pelicans a five-point lead before Butler’s 4 points led a Heat surge that gave them a 56-55 halftime lead. – Rappler.com