Short-handed Heat beat Pelicans 123-111 in final game for both teams before All-Star break
Short-handed Heat beat Pelicans 123-111 in final game for both teams before All-Star break
Any update on uh Trey so far? Nothing yet. We’ll know more tomorrow. Yeah. And just how much, just what are the offensive rebounds really hurt you guys when you were trying to make *** run and then they just kept getting second chance opportunities? I think it was throughout the game, really. I don’t think it was just the end. I mean, You know. It became *** possession game at the end of the day, you know, one on one on the board, 2 on 1 on the board, you know, one on one drives, that’s the game. So that’s our growth, that’s our challenge, you know, the physicality on the interior right there, we gotta be better. Obviously we missed Eve, you know, his, his presence down there in the paint, but no excuse, you know, we had plenty of opportunities to get stops and it just becomes one on one on the board somehow, some way you gotta get those. So, um, you know, we’ll watch it, we own it, and now we gotta get better from that. And uh and Jeremiah triple-double tonight. What did you I thought he was great. I thought he was fantastic. And that is blossoming maturity, aggression. Um, The game has really slowed down for him, yet his speed. Is, is *** presence out there, his pace, his poise, his defense, uh, really proud of him. He, he’s done *** hell of *** job the last, you know, 12 weeks. His progression has been significant. Uh, I’m proud of him and DQ. I want them to go enjoy this LA trip, come back ready to go and, you know, get us to the finish line. So, um, but I couldn’t be more proud of him. The way he’s handled this whole thing, the maturity and the response has been phenomenal. I know you just wax poetic on on fears, but just, just to build on that *** little bit, he’s finally getting to *** point where he’s stringing games together where you guys are winning his minutes, right? You know, uh, look at the plus minus the plus plus plus, um. What, what do you feel like he’s done to adjust to kind of contribute, uh, to have that impact in the overall team sense? I think it’s decision making at the end of the day, you know, especially when the ball’s in your hands so much, you know, I don’t think, you know, it’s not like his speed has changed. It’s not like his, um, athleticism has changed, it’s just how he’s using it, you know, and he’s been more impactful in making better decisions, quicker decisions, um, he’s he’s very aware of his teammates now like he’s very aware of who needs the ball, where they need the ball, what we’re calling. If he needs to speed up, slow down, and then the defense to me as well. It’s not just, I think maybe the numbers that were trending the wrong direction, *** lot of that was on the defensive end. So let’s just give him credit for the defense, one on one on the ball, getting through screens, guarding one on one. You know, and then getting out in transition, um, and then I think just making the right decisions when he’s getting to the paint, that is really slowing down for him. Um, so, it sounds pretty simple, but that’s been the game for him. You know, it’s *** very simple game that he’s playing and having massive impact for our group. Debbie, what’s kind of your message to the team just going to the All-Star? Go enjoy it, you know, get away. It’s been *** long season to this point. You know, this, this group’s been through *** lot this, this season to this point, but I love that, that battle they’re showing, um, the growth they’re showing. Um, we got to come back and be ready to go, but I want them to clear their minds, get their bodies, you know, refreshed, um, spend some time away from this. We all need some time away from this, and that’s what this break is for, um, and then come back ready to go, you know, we’re going after this thing and it doesn’t get easy. We get, you know, right to *** back to back, so. Um, but it’s, it’s great. Get our guys some, some much-needed downtime, get away and, and enjoy it. Any updates on Trey? Nothing on Trey yet, you know, um, whatever’s been reported, I think is there, and then we’ll, we’ll, we’ll know more on, uh, Eve and Trey, I guess in the next 2.
Short-handed Heat beat Pelicans 123-111 in final game for both teams before All-Star break
Short-handed Heat beat Pelicans 123-111 in final game for both teams before All-Star break
Updated: 9:57 PM CST Feb 11, 2026
Bam Adebayo had 27 points, 14 rebounds and four blocks and the short-handed Miami Heat beat the New Orleans Pelicans 123-111 on Wednesday night in the final game for both teams before the All-Star break.Miami used only nine players, with Tyler Herro, Norman Powell, Pelle Larsson and Andrew Wiggins sidelined. Herro missed his 15th straight game.Jaime Jaquez Jr. added 23 points, Kel’el Ware had 16 points and 12 rebounds and Simone Fontecchio scored 15 points. Eighth in the Eastern Conference, the Heat improved to 29-27. Miami has won 11 of its last 12 against New OrleansZion Williamson had 26 points for New Orleans. He has played a career-high 30 straight games and 40 of 56 this season. In his first six seasons, he played 214 of 472 games and never had more than 25 in a row.Trey Murphy III added 19 points before leaving late in the third quarter because of soreness in his right shoulder. The Pelicans dropped to 15-41. They had won two in a row.Ware hit a 3-pointer with 2:46 left in the third quarter to cap a 23-10 run that gave Miami a 92-76 lead. The Heat hit four 3s during that surge, one each by Kasparas Jakucionis, Fontecchio, Myron Gardner and Ware.During that stretch, Jakucionis also hit three free throws after landing on Murphy’s foot on a missed 3 near sideline. Murphy was called for a flagrant foul.Miami pushed the lead to 17 at 112-95 with 6:19 left in the fourth. After New Orleans cut it to 115-111 on Williamson’s putback, Fontecchio hit a 3 from the left corner with 54 seconds remaining to make it 118-111.Miami led 58-55 at halftime. Adebayo had 15 points in the half.Up nextHeat: At Atlanta on Friday, Feb. 20.Pelicans: Host Milwaukee on Friday, Feb. 20.
NEW ORLEANS —
Bam Adebayo had 27 points, 14 rebounds and four blocks and the short-handed Miami Heat beat the New Orleans Pelicans 123-111 on Wednesday night in the final game for both teams before the All-Star break.
Miami used only nine players, with Tyler Herro, Norman Powell, Pelle Larsson and Andrew Wiggins sidelined. Herro missed his 15th straight game.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. added 23 points, Kel’el Ware had 16 points and 12 rebounds and Simone Fontecchio scored 15 points. Eighth in the Eastern Conference, the Heat improved to 29-27. Miami has won 11 of its last 12 against New Orleans
Zion Williamson had 26 points for New Orleans. He has played a career-high 30 straight games and 40 of 56 this season. In his first six seasons, he played 214 of 472 games and never had more than 25 in a row.
Trey Murphy III added 19 points before leaving late in the third quarter because of soreness in his right shoulder. The Pelicans dropped to 15-41. They had won two in a row.
Ware hit a 3-pointer with 2:46 left in the third quarter to cap a 23-10 run that gave Miami a 92-76 lead. The Heat hit four 3s during that surge, one each by Kasparas Jakucionis, Fontecchio, Myron Gardner and Ware.
During that stretch, Jakucionis also hit three free throws after landing on Murphy’s foot on a missed 3 near sideline. Murphy was called for a flagrant foul.
Miami pushed the lead to 17 at 112-95 with 6:19 left in the fourth. After New Orleans cut it to 115-111 on Williamson’s putback, Fontecchio hit a 3 from the left corner with 54 seconds remaining to make it 118-111.
Miami led 58-55 at halftime. Adebayo had 15 points in the half.
Up next
Heat: At Atlanta on Friday, Feb. 20.
Pelicans: Host Milwaukee on Friday, Feb. 20.