The Miami Heat kept their late-season surge alive with a gritty 109-103 win over the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center. Jimmy Butler led the way with a vintage performance, while Miami’s defense closed strong in the fourth quarter.
The Pelicans led by as many as 10 in the first half behind Zion Williamson’s interior dominance, but Miami chipped away throughout the second half, eventually taking control midway through the fourth thanks to timely buckets from Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo.
Key Performers
Miami Heat:
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Jimmy Butler: 27 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists
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Bam Adebayo: 19 points, 11 rebounds
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Tyler Herro: 18 points, 3 threes, 5 assists
New Orleans Pelicans:
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Zion Williamson: 26 points, 7 rebounds
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Brandon Ingram: 20 points, 5 assists
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CJ McCollum: 17 points, 3 assists
Statistical Highlights
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Field Goal %: Heat 48.5% | Pelicans 45.2%
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Three-Point %: Heat 9/24 (37.5%) | Pelicans 8/26 (30.8%)
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Rebounds: Heat 42 | Pelicans 39
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Turnovers: Heat 10 | Pelicans 14
Takeaways
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Jimmy Butler is rounding into postseason form, with clutch play on both ends.
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Miami’s defense tightened late, forcing multiple turnovers in crunch time.
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New Orleans needs stronger closing execution, especially with playoff positioning at stake.
Playoff Implications
The win helps Miami maintain momentum in the East’s play-in battle, while the Pelicans remain in the middle of the Western logjam. Every game counts now.
