Game ID: 22300810
Miami Heat @ New Orleans Pelicans
Friday, February 23, 2024 at 8:00 PM ET
Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
NOP 24 34 22 15 95MIA 31 27 26 22 106
MIA @ NOP ScoutingMIA @ NOP Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
NOP availability going into 2/10 · back-to-backOUT Marshall missed 2 since 2/07, returns tonight: 18 min (92% of 19)
OUT Ryan missed 39 since 11/20, returns tonight: 5 min (36% of 14)
BACK Jones back 2/05 after 2, 27 min since (88% of 31)
NOP availability going into 2/12 · 1 day's restBACK Jones back 2/05 after 2, 30 min since (97% of 31)
BACK Marshall back 2/10 after 2, 18 min since (92% of 19)
BACK Ryan back 2/10 after 39, 5 min since (36% of 14)
NOP availability going into 2/14 · 1 day's restOUT Daniels missed 2 since 2/10, out tonight
BACK Jones back 2/05 after 2, 31 min since (100% of 31)
BACK Marshall back 2/10 after 2, 15 min since (80% of 19)
BACK Ryan back 2/10 after 39, 5 min since (36% of 14)
NOP availability going into 2/22 · 7 days' restOUT Daniels missed 3 since 2/10, out tonight
OUT Hawkins missed 2 since 2/12, returns tonight: 17 min (102% of 17)
OUT Ryan missed 2 since 2/12, returns tonight: 2 min (16% of 14)
BACK Marshall back 2/10 after 2, 18 min since (95% of 19)
NOP availability going into 2/23 · back-to-backOUT Daniels missed 4 since 2/10, out tonight
BACK Marshall back 2/10 after 2, 19 min since (97% of 19)
BACK Hawkins back 2/22 after 2, 17 min since (102% of 17)
BACK Ryan back 2/10 after 39, 4 min since (26% of 14)
NOP availability going into 2/25 · 1 day's restOUT Ingram missed 2 since 2/22, returns tonight: 39 min (117% of 33)
OUT Daniels missed 5 since 2/10, out tonight
BACK Marshall back 2/10 after 2, 17 min since (91% of 19)
BACK Hawkins back 2/22 after 2, 20 min since (119% of 17)
BACK Ryan back 2/10 after 39, 4 min since (26% of 14)
NOP availability going into 2/27 · 1 day's restOUT Daniels missed 6 since 2/10, out tonight
BACK Ingram back 2/25 after 2, 39 min since (117% of 33)
BACK Hawkins back 2/22 after 2, 18 min since (109% of 17)
BACK Ryan back 2/22 after 2, 11 min since (80% of 14)
NOP availability going into 2/28 · back-to-backOUT McCollum missed 2 since 2/25, returns tonight: 34 min (105% of 33)
OUT Daniels missed 7 since 2/10, out tonight
OUT Alvarado missed 2 since 2/25, out tonight
BACK Ingram back 2/25 after 2, 36 min since (109% of 33)
BACK Hawkins back 2/22 after 2, 18 min since (107% of 17)
BACK Ryan back 2/22 after 2, 11 min since (83% of 14)
NOP availability going into 3/01 · 1 day's restOUT Daniels missed 8 since 2/10, out tonight
OUT Alvarado missed 3 since 2/25, returns tonight: 25 min (135% of 18)
BACK Ingram back 2/25 after 2, 34 min since (102% of 33)
BACK McCollum back 2/28 after 2, 34 min since (105% of 33)
BACK Hawkins back 2/22 after 2, 18 min since (107% of 17)
BACK Ryan back 2/22 after 2, 11 min since (83% of 14)
NEW Jones 31 to 37 min over the last 5
MIA availability going into 2/07 · back-to-backOUT Jović missed 5 since 1/29, returns tonight: 2 min (12% of 20)
OUT Bryant missed 3 since 2/02, out tonight
OUT Cain missed 16 since 1/08, out tonight
BACK Robinson back 2/06 after 3, 22 min since (80% of 27)
MIA availability going into 2/11 · 3 days' restOUT Bryant missed 4 since 2/02, out tonight
OUT Cain missed 17 since 1/08, out tonight
BACK Robinson back 2/06 after 3, 20 min since (75% of 27)
BACK Jović back 2/07 after 5, 2 min since (12% of 20)
MIA availability going into 2/13 · 1 day's restOUT Bryant missed 5 since 2/02, out tonight
OUT Cain missed 18 since 1/08, returns tonight: 6 min (63% of 10)
BACK Robinson back 2/06 after 3, 24 min since (91% of 27)
BACK Jović back 2/07 after 5, 2 min since (12% of 20)
MIA availability going into 2/14 · back-to-backOUT Butler III missed 2 since 2/11, out tonight
OUT Bryant missed 6 since 2/02, out tonight
BACK Robinson back 2/06 after 3, 25 min since (93% of 27)
BACK Jović back 2/07 after 5, 16 min since (82% of 20)
BACK Cain back 2/13 after 18, 6 min since (63% of 10)
MIA availability going into 2/23 · 8 days' restOUT Butler III missed 3 since 2/11, returns tonight: 27 min (79% of 34)
OUT Rozier missed 2 since 2/13, out tonight
OUT Richardson missed 2 since 2/13, out tonight
OUT Bryant missed 7 since 2/02, out tonight
BACK Robinson back 2/06 after 3, 26 min since (98% of 27)
BACK Jović back 2/07 after 5, 16 min since (78% of 20)
BACK Cain back 2/13 after 18, 8 min since (82% of 10)
MIA availability going into 2/26 · 2 days' restOUT Rozier missed 3 since 2/13, out tonight
OUT Richardson missed 3 since 2/13, out tonight
OUT Bryant missed 8 since 2/02, out tonight
BACK Butler III back 2/23 after 3, 27 min since (79% of 34)
BACK Jović back 2/07 after 5, 17 min since (84% of 20)
BACK Cain back 2/13 after 18, 8 min since (82% of 10)
MIA availability going into 2/27 · back-to-backOUT Rozier missed 4 since 2/13, returns tonight: 30 min (96% of 32)
OUT Richardson missed 4 since 2/13, out tonight
OUT Bryant missed 9 since 2/02, out tonight
OUT Cain missed 2 since 2/23, out tonight
BACK Butler III back 2/23 after 3, 27 min since (79% of 34)
NEW Robinson 27 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Highsmith 21 to 26 min over the last 5
MIA availability going into 2/29 · 1 day's restOUT Herro missed 2 since 2/26, out tonight
OUT Richardson missed 5 since 2/13, out tonight
OUT Bryant missed 10 since 2/02, out tonight
OUT Cain missed 3 since 2/23, out tonight
BACK Butler III back 2/23 after 3, 30 min since (89% of 34)
BACK Rozier back 2/27 after 4, 30 min since (96% of 32)
NEW Robinson 27 to 32 min over the last 5
MIA availability going into 3/02 · 1 day's restOUT Herro missed 3 since 2/26, out tonight
OUT Richardson missed 6 since 2/13, out tonight
OUT Bryant missed 11 since 2/02, out tonight
OUT Cain missed 4 since 2/23, out tonight
BACK Butler III back 2/23 after 3, 34 min since (99% of 34)
BACK Rozier back 2/27 after 4, 32 min since (100% of 32)
NEW Robinson 27 to 34 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 108, shooting 50 percent and 37 from three, 22 free throws a game; Williamson at 27 and McCollum at 18 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Daniels (4 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Miami comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 102, shooting 49 percent and 35 from three, 18 free throws a game; Herro at 21 and Adebayo at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Butler III (3 straight), Rozier (2 straight), Richardson (2 straight). 8 days' rest.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the defense, Miami allowing 102 a night to New Orleans's 108. Call it New Orleans 112, Miami 111, Miami keeping it close.
2/10 @ POR 93-84 — NOP notes
NOP won 93-84. NOP shot 47% (36 of 76) to POR's 43%, 10 of 27 from three. NOP turned it over 12 times to POR's 17. Murphy III led with 24 (7 of 10, 5 of 8 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Ingram added 17, Valančiūnas 16. The hinge was Q4, 29-21: a lead of 1 became 9. McCollum was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
2/12 @ MEM 96-87 — NOP notes
NOP won 96-87. NOP shot 41% (32 of 78) to MEM's 42%, 13 of 35 from three, and went to the line 24 times to MEM's 8 — 19 points from the stripe to their 7. The glass went 49-36 for them. Jones led with 17 (5 of 9, 3 of 6 from three); Ingram added 16, Williamson 14. The hinge was Q2, 30-21: a lead of 5 became 14, and the lead reached 25. Nance Jr. was the night's best plus/minus at +28.
2/14 vs WAS 133-126 — NOP notes
NOP won 133-126. NOP shot 56% (50 of 89) to WAS's 48%, 10 of 32 from three, and went to the line 29 times to WAS's 20 — 23 points from the stripe to their 17. NOP turned it over 10 times to WAS's 19. Williamson led with 36 (15 of 21, 6 of 9 at the line); McCollum added 26, Ingram 18. The hinge was Q4, 34-28: a lead of 1 became 7, and the lead reached 20. Marshall was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
2/22 vs HOU 127-105 — NOP notes
NOP won 127-105. NOP shot 52% (50 of 96) to HOU's 44%, 16 of 41 from three, and got to the line 18 times to HOU's 28. NOP turned it over 13 times to HOU's 22. McCollum led with 28 (11 of 22, 4 of 10 from three); Williamson added 27, Valančiūnas 20. The hinge was Q2, 32-23: a lead of 4 became 13, and the lead reached 29. Jones was the night's best plus/minus at +36.
2/23 vs MIA 95-106 — NOP notes
NOP lost 95-106. NOP took 22 more shots (104 to 82), fed by 18 offensive rebounds, but shot 38% to MIA's 46%, 7 of 32 from three, and got to the line 13 times to MIA's 25. Williamson led with 23 (9 of 22, 5 of 6 at the line); Jones added 19, Hawkins 14. Q2 was theirs, 34-27, the deficit cut from 7 to 0, but the other 3 periods went 79-61 against them. Williamson's -23 in 36 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/25 vs CHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 102, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 20 free throws a game; Williamson at 25 and Ingram at 17 a game. Without Ingram (2 straight), Daniels (5 straight). One day's rest. Chicago comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 117, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 20 free throws a game; DeRozan at 26 and White at 21 a game. 2 days' rest.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the defense, New Orleans allowing 102 a night to Chicago's 117 and the arc, Chicago at 40 percent from three to New Orleans's 34. Call it New Orleans 115, Chicago 109.
2/27 @ NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New York comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 109, shooting 45 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; Brunson at 30 and DiVincenzo at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Randle (12 straight), Anunoby (12 straight), Robinson (37 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 108, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 20 free throws a game; Williamson at 24 and Ingram at 19 a game. Without Daniels (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: New Orleans wins, on the road, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it New Orleans 111, New York 110, New York keeping it close.
2/28 @ IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Indiana comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 118, shooting 51 percent and 36 from three, 20 free throws a game; Turner at 21 and Siakam at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Nesmith (3 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 109, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 19 free throws a game; Williamson at 25 and Ingram at 21 a game. Without McCollum (2 straight), Daniels (7 straight), Alvarado (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Indiana wins, and the game turns on the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-2 a night and Indiana minus-5 and the defense, New Orleans allowing 109 a night to Indiana's 118. Call it Indiana 119, New Orleans 116, New Orleans keeping it close.
3/01 vs IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 108, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 18 free throws a game; Ingram at 25 and Williamson at 23 a game. Without Daniels (8 straight), Alvarado (3 straight). One day's rest. Indiana comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 119, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 18 free throws a game; Siakam at 21 and Mathurin at 20 a game. Without Nesmith (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the defense, New Orleans allowing 108 a night to Indiana's 119 and the turnovers, New Orleans giving it away 13 times a game to Indiana's 10. Call it New Orleans 118, Indiana 117, Indiana keeping it close.
2/07 vs SAS 116-104 — MIA notes
MIA won 116-104. MIA shot 49% (43 of 87) to SAS's 46%, 12 of 38 from three, and went to the line 23 times to SAS's 17 — 18 points from the stripe to their 10. Herro led with 24 (10 of 15, 4 of 7 from three); Adebayo added 20, Butler III 17. The hinge was Q4, 38-27: a lead of 1 became 12, and the lead reached 19. Butler III was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
2/11 vs BOS 106-110 — MIA notes
MIA lost 106-110. MIA took 16 more shots (97 to 81), fed by 14 offensive rebounds, but shot 41% to BOS's 51%, 12 of 40 from three. Herro led with 24 (10 of 21, 4 of 12 from three); Adebayo added 22, Martin 15. Q4 was theirs, 27-24, the deficit cut from 7 to 4, but the other 3 periods went 86-79 against them. Love's -10 in 15 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/13 @ MIL 123-97 — MIA notes
MIA won 123-97. MIA shot 52% (45 of 87) to MIL's 45%, 19 of 40 from three, and went to the line 18 times to MIL's 11 — 14 points from the stripe to their 10. Jović led with 24 (8 of 13, 5 of 8 from three); D. Robinson added 23, Herro 19. The hinge was Q1, 40-28: from level to 12 ahead, and the lead reached 31. Adebayo was the night's best plus/minus at +30.
2/14 @ PHI 109-104 — MIA notes
MIA won 109-104. MIA shot 48% (42 of 88) to PHI's 48%, 11 of 35 from three. Adebayo led with 23 (9 of 14); Herro added 23, Robinson 20. The hinge was Q4, 26-22: a lead of 1 became 5. MIA trailed 60-62 at the half and won the second half 49-42. Robinson was the night's best plus/minus at +14.
2/23 @ NOP 106-95 — MIA notes
MIA won 106-95. MIA shot 46% (38 of 82) to NOP's 38%, 13 of 29 from three, and went to the line 25 times to NOP's 13 — 17 points from the stripe to their 10. Adebayo led with 24 (11 of 18); Butler III added 23, Robinson 17. The hinge was Q1, 31-24: from level to 7 ahead, and the lead reached 19. Butler III was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
2/26 @ SAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Sacramento comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 117, shooting 50 percent and 35 from three, 18 free throws a game; Fox at 29 and Sabonis at 23 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Ellis (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Miami comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 102, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 19 free throws a game; Adebayo at 21 and Herro at 21 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Rozier (3 straight), Richardson (3 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the defense, Miami allowing 102 a night to Sacramento's 117. Call it Sacramento 114, Miami 113, Miami keeping it close.
2/27 @ POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Portland comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 95 a night and allowing 112, shooting 41 percent and 26 from three, 21 free throws a game; Grant at 19 and Ayton at 18 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Sharpe (19 straight), Brogdon (7 straight), Henderson (2 straight). One day's rest. Miami comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 103, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; Adebayo at 23 and Herro at 20 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Rozier (4 straight), Richardson (4 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Miami wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Miami at 38 percent from three to Portland's 26 and the defense, Miami allowing 103 a night to Portland's 112. Call it Miami 111, Portland 106.
2/29 @ DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 105, shooting 51 percent and 35 from three, 19 free throws a game; Murray at 26 and Jokić at 22 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Second night of a back-to-back. Miami comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 100, shooting 50 percent and 42 from three, 22 free throws a game; Adebayo at 21 and Herro at 19 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Herro (2 straight), Richardson (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the arc, Miami at 42 percent from three to Denver's 35 and the glass, where Denver has been plus-4 a night and Miami minus-1. Call it Denver 111, Miami 109, Miami keeping it close.
3/02 vs UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Miami comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 102, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 23 free throws a game; Adebayo at 22 and Butler III at 22 a game. Without Herro (3 straight), Richardson (6 straight). One day's rest. Utah comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 121, shooting 44 percent and 38 from three, 26 free throws a game; Sexton at 22 and Markkanen at 19 a game. Without Juzang (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Miami wins, and the game turns on the defense, Miami allowing 102 a night to Utah's 121. Call it Miami 116, Utah 110.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
NOPCM C. McCollum
HJ H. Jones
JA J. Alvarado
JH J. Hawkins
JR J. Robinson-Earl
JV J. Valančiūnas
LN L. Nance Jr.
NM N. Marshall
TM T. Murphy III
ZW Z. Williamson
MIABA B. Adebayo
BU Butler
CM C. Martin
DR D. Robinson
HH H. Highsmith
JB J. Butler III
JJ J. Jaquez Jr.
JO Jovic
KL K. Love
NJ N. Jović
TH T. Herro
NOP/MIA the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Butler ejected, but not before helping Heat top Pelicans 106-95
NEW ORLEANS -- — Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler wasn't pleased about being ejected for his involvement in a fourth-quarter melee with the New Orleans Pelicans .
He was however, gratified by the way his teammates responded during the 11 minutes that followed.
Butler had 23 points and nine rebounds before being sent to the locker room and the Heat held off the Pelicans 106-95 on Friday night before a hostile and emotionally charged crowd.
“Our team is so ready for anything that anybody’s thrown at us,” Butler said after the Heat won for the seventh time in nine games. “We’re so together, playing some incredible basketball. I don’t think it matters who we go up against right now. It’s that time of the year.”
Bam Adebayo scored 24 points for Miami, which returned from its All-Star break by beating snapping the Pelicans' four-game winning streak in what also marked the Heat's seventh straight victory over New Orleans.
Miami reserve Thomas Bryant , along with Pelicans players Jose Alvarado and Naji Marshall , also were ejected after the on-court melee with 11:19 to go. Even a couple fans were escorted out, one of them after throwing things at Heat players from one of the first few rows.
“You never want to see that,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said about the scuffle. “Once it was all done, the response was appropriate — discipline, physicality, force, but not going over the top.”
The dust-up began when Heat center Kevin Love grabbed Zion Williamson to prevent a layup after Williamson had stolen the ball from Butler in the back court. Williamson fell to the court after Love's foul.
“It was just, I think, a misunderstanding of the play,” Spoelstra said. "I think Zion slipped on the play when K-Love grabbed him and it looked a lot worse than what it was. And then everybody kind of overreacted.
“On K-Love's best day, I don't think he could throw (Williamson) down,” Spoelstra added.
When play resumed, the Pelicans briefly surged in front when rookie Jordan Hawkins ' 3 made it 91-89, but Heat reserve Haywood Highsmith quickly responded with a 3 that ignited a decisive 11-0 Miami run.
“It's a sign of good teams that even with Jimmy out, other guys could step up and they wanted it,” Spoelstra said. “You could feel it that guys wanted to do it for Jimmy and just the context of everything was just figure out a way to finish this game.”
Duncan Robinson scored 17 points and Tyler Herro scored 15 for the Heat. Herro, however, appeared to hurt his left knee with 1:40 left and hobbled straight to the locker room after he was helped to his feet.
Williamson had 23 points, nine rebounds and seven assists for New Orleans, which played a second straight night without high-scoring wing Brandon Ingram (illness), and lost for just the second time in 10 games. Guard CJ McCollum also left the game in the first half with a left ankle injury after initially trying to play through it.
Pelicans coach Willie Green complimented his players' effort and intensity.
“I love what I saw from this group; just didn't score enough points,” Green said. “It was two competitive teams that want to win and some times you're going to have things like that happen. No big deal.”
But Green also suggested that the Pelicans also have been a bit frustrated that officials often don't whistle opponents for hard contact on the burly, powerful Williamson, who is listed at 285 pounds.
“I don't think he gets a great whistle and I thought it could have been better,” Green said, adding that he'd like to see officials "be consistent across the board” in the way they handle contact involving all players.
Herb Jones scored 19 points and Jonas Valanciunas had 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Pelicans, who were done in by 37.5% shooting (39 of 104) — 7 of 32 (21.9%) from 3-point range.
Miami, by contrast, shot 44.8% (13 of 29) from deep and 46.3% (38 of 82) overall. New Orleans outrebounded Miami 54-46 and outscored the Heat 58-46 in the paint, but that was not enough to overcome the shooting disparity in the game.
Butler scored 17 points in the first half and gave Miami a lead as large as 19 when he tipped in Jaime Jaquez Jr .'s jump hook to make it 43-24. When Herro hit his second 3 of the game, the Heat led 55-37 with less that six minutes to go in the half.
That's when the Pelicans suddenly locked down defensively and began a dramatic 21-3 run to close the second quarter. It started with Williamson's free throws, followed by his putback.
Trey Murphy III , having missed his first seven shots, hit a 3 to pull the Pelicans back to 57-47. Alvarado added another from deep, followed by a reverse scoop that he spun in off the glass. Valanciunas finished the remarkable, crowd-energizing surge with a layup set up by Williamson to tie it at 58 at halftime.