NBA: Tyler Herro, Heat turn back Pelicans
Tyler Herro #14 of the Miami Heat attempts a shot over CJ McCollum #3 of the New Orleans Pelicans during the first half at Miami-Dade Arena on January 22, 2023 in Miami, Florida. Eric Espada/Getty Images/AFP
Tyler Herro scored a game-high 26 points, and Kyle Lowry scored nine straight points in the fourth quarter, leading the host Miami Heat to a 100-96 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday.
Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler had 18 points each for Miami, and Lowry added 17.
New Orleans’ CJ McCollum took a 3-pointer with 7.6 seconds left that would’ve given the Pelicans a 99-98 lead, but the shot missed off the front of the rim.
The Pelicans, who have lost four straight games, got a double-double from Jonas Valanciunas (14 points, 16 rebounds). New Orleans also got a team-high 17 points from Trey Murphy III. McCollum was held to 13 points on 5-for-16 shooting from the floor.
Miami, 8-4 in its past 12 games, rallied from a 16-point deficit.
Tyler caught a rhythm and there was no stopping him pic.twitter.com/zSmGLHoj7Y
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) January 22, 2023
New Orleans again was without its two injured stars and top scorers: Zion Williamson (hamstring) and Brandon Ingram (toe).
Pelicans reserve Devonte’ Graham had seven points, and he had a steal and a half-court swish to close the first quarter. The shot initially was ruled as late, but it was called good between quarters.
New Orleans led 32-23 after one quarter as the Pelicans shot 9-of-11 in the paint and 63.2 percent overall.
We saw vintage Kyle Lowry down the stretch. 4 straight buckets, 9 points in less than 2 minutes. pic.twitter.com/2f2lLxLOTp
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) January 22, 2023
The Heat — fueled by their defense — closed the second quarter on a 10-0 run and trailed 47-41 at halftime. The score was almost closer as Lowry made a 70-foot shot that was released just after the halftime buzzer.
Miami took its first lead of the game on two Butler free throws with 3:10 left in the third quarter, putting the Heat up 65-63. The Pelicans, though, led 72-69 entering the fourth.
The Pelicans turned the ball over 24 times in the game, including some key miscues in the final minute. With 15 seconds left in the fourth, and Miami leading 97-96, Daniels tried to hit Larry Nance Jr. in the post. But the pass was high, and it went off Nance’s left hand.
Miami’s Victor Oladipo followed by making one free throw for a 98-96 lead. Daniels then failed to inbound the ball in five seconds for another turnover.
The final Pelicans chance was the shot by McCollum, who was tightly guarded by Butler.
