Norman Powell caught fire to shut down the Pelicans

After his defeat against Wukov that snapped a four-game winning streak, the Heat were looking to revive themselves against the Pelicans before embarking on a “four-game road trip.” To start the game, Miami relies on its 3-point prowess as its first six field goals came from behind the arc as Norman Powell (34 points, 11/15 shooting, 9/12 from distance) on 3/3 in the sector to start the match.

The former Clippers wildcard also started the game well with 15 points in just six minutes, which allowed the Heat to increase the first deficit (29-23). When he goes to sit on the bench, Nikola Jovic (19 points, 6 rebounds) takes over with 13 units and 5/8 shooting in this first act.

But if Miami is skilled, so is the Pelicans who shot 68% in this first quarter, trailing just 43-39 after twelve minutes of play.

Fatal air hole for the Pelicans

If the attacks of the two teams stood out in the first quarter, the beginning of the second act was much more sloppy. On the one hand, the Heat’s outside address is disappearing as the Pelicans continue to lose the ball. However, New Orleans manages to tie the game at 57 everywhere Trey Murphy III (27 points, shooting 10/19). The winger shines in this first period and hits his fifth shot from distance a minute before going to the dressing room. However, Norman Powell responds with a new award-winning shot.

In the process, No. 24 from the Heat beats Trey Murphy and allows Miami to return to the locker room with an eight-point lead: 70-62.

After the break, the Pelicans suffered a six-minute deficit during which they did not make a single shot. Miami then took advantage of the opportunity to regain the ten-point lead thanks to Norman Powell, who is still unsustainable behind the arc. Heat is then developed and Bam Adebayodiscreet until now, he is responsible for the Floridians’ lead of twenty points (91-71).

At the start of the final act, the Pelicans trailed by 16 points and James Borrego’s men never troubled Miami in the closing minutes. New Orleans ended up losing 106-125.

WHAT TO REMEMBER

– Norman Powell sets career record. For the beginning of 2026. Norman Powell scored 36 points against the Pistons and was more discreet against the Wolves, the guard did it again this week. From the first act, he scored 15 points in just six minutes, and his counter showed twenty points when he returned to the locker room. Unlike the Pelicans, the passage to the locker room does not cool him because he is the one who increases the gap in favor of the Heat, always with shots from behind the arc. The former Clippers finished the game with 34 points and a career-high nine three-pointers.

– The Heat bench is still effective. I Jaime Jaquez Jr. was absent due to an ankle injury, which did not prevent Miami’s bench from shining. The first to speak was Nikola Jović, who finished the game with 19 points, even though he was more clumsy in the second period. Behind him, Pelle Larsson added 19 units despite a lack of skill behind the arc (1/9). On the Pelicans side, the bench didn’t contribute enough except Ives Missy which offered some good defensive sequences, but offensively the overall performance was not good and New Orleans lost the bench battle by a score of 44-29.

– Lots of Pelican waste. The contribution of the “second unit” was not the main problem for New Orleans in this match. If in the first half, teammates Zion Williamson shone with their skill, the rest of the game was punctuated by their excessive losses of the ball. The Pelicans lost a total of 24 turnovers, resulting in 17 points in favor of the Heat.

https://vvv.youtube.com/vatch?v=nPhKs7fCVIrv

How to read statistics? Min = Minute; Shots = Shots Successful / Shots Attempted; 3 points = 3 points / attempt 3 points; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive jump; T = Total number of jumps; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal mistakes; Int = intercepts; Bp = lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Difference of points when the player is on the field; Points = Points; Rating: player rating calculated based on positive actions – negative actions.