Why the Pelicans won was ‘key’ before the trip to the Midwest

MIAMI – With The Miami Heat defeated the New Orleans Pelicanss on Sunday night, 125-106, comes just before the team embarks on a four-game Midwest road trip. As it is The Heat’s road trip begins Tuesday against the Minnesota TimberwolvesSunday’s win proved crucial, the star explained Norman Powell.

Led by Powell with a team-high 34 points and a career-high nine three-pointers, Miami earned a collective victory and got the job done against New Orleans. Especially after Saturday’s disappointing loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, Powell would be thinking about why Monday’s result “really key.”

“I told them, and Spo and the rest of the coaching staff and even the guys in the locker room knew this was a must-win,” Powell said. “You know, especially when we lost the front end of the back-to-back, we definitely had to come out and set the tone and get this win just to get us ready and ready for this trip.”

“We want to do some damage on this road trip and get these wins,” Powell continued. “And it’s going to be big for us. So I thought it was a good starting point for us to go on the road feeling good and how we have to play collectively on both sides of the ball. But yeah, this trip is going to be really big for us to go out and get some wins.”

He asked Norman Powell how important it was to win this game and start a four-game road trip with momentum.

“Really key, I said to them, Spaw, and the rest of the coaching staff and even the guys in the dressing room that this has to win… #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/M8Eni766VI

— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) January 5, 2026

The heat has to stick to its identity, especially during the upcoming trip

Doc The Heat have a great opportunity to make a name for themselves as a dangerous team during this upcoming trip, there needs to be a concerted effort on both sides of the ball, as was shown on Sunday. Despite giving up 39 points to New Orleans in the first quarter, Miami improved its defensive activity throughout the rest of the game, notably forcing 26 turnovers on 31 points.

This has been a trend with the Heat doing well in forcing turnovers, as the team posted the league’s highest turnover rate over its last six contests at 18.5 percent.

“It is and must be our identity,“We have to play with levity and an activity level that exceeds our opponent.” Spoelstra said. And that’s not to diminish the level of our talent or anything like that. It’s more about how we look different when we fly around and play and make it difficult for the opponent.”

Erik Spoelstra answers whether the Heat are tied for first in the league in turnovers because of the teams they’ve played or if they’ve seen significant changes.

“It’s probably both, both things are probably true about that, but it is and must be our identity…” #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/8zEVa0GzgF

— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) January 5, 2026

Either way, Miami is 20-16 and begins its Midwest road trip Tuesday against Minnesota.