Can the Pelicans Bounce Back After Home Setback Against Heat?
In a closely contested game at the Smoothie King Center, the New Orleans Pelicans, with a record of 34-23, faced off against the Miami Heat, who came in with a 31-25 record. The final score read 106-95 in favor of the visiting team.
The New Orleans Pelicans started strong in front of their home crowd of 18,658 fans but could not maintain their momentum throughout the game. Despite outrebounding Miami with a total rebound count of 63 compared to Miami's 57 and leading by as much as two points during playtime, they struggled to keep up with Miami's pace. The Pelicans' bench contributed significantly with 34 bench points and showed resilience by drawing fouls and capitalizing on second-chance opportunities which resulted in 25 second-chance points.
However, shooting accuracy was an issue for the home team; they shot only 38 percent from the field compared to Miami's more efficient rate of 46 percent. From beyond the arc, it was even more challenging for New Orleans as they made just seven out of thirty-two three-point attempts resulting in an underwhelming three-point percentage of just twenty-two percent.
Miami Heat showcased their defensive capabilities by blocking eleven shots while also maintaining offensive pressure that led them to score eighteen fast-break points. Their efficiency on both ends was evident as they had an offensive rating over one hundred eight and a defensive rating below ninety-three.
The Pelicans did have some standout performances despite falling short on scoring efficiency; they managed to draw nineteen personal fouls from their opponents while committing twenty-one themselves. They also maintained discipline regarding turnovers having only eleven compared to fifteen from Miami.
As for individual contributions from New Orleans players, there were notable efforts that kept them competitive throughout various stages of the game. Their ability to assist each other remained consistent with twenty assists overall matching that of Miami Heat’s tally but ultimately fell short due primarily to shooting struggles across all fronts including free throws where they shot seventy-seven percent making ten out of thirteen attempts.
Looking ahead after this tough loss at home against Miami Heat, fans can look forward to seeing how New Orleans Pelicans will regroup when they host Chicago Bulls at Smoothie King Center on February 25th at 6:00 PM local time (7:00 PM ET). This upcoming matchup promises another exciting encounter and fans can catch all live action broadcasted on BSNO or NBCS-CHI+.