The New Orleans Pelicans suffered the most lopsided defeat in franchise history on Friday night, falling to the Miami Heat 153-104. The injury-depleted Pelicans fielded just eight players for the second straight game and struggled to compete against Miami’s scorching offense.
Bam Adebayo’s 23-point, 12-rebound performance in only 22 minutes set the tone for the Heat, while Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson combined for 43 points in under 45 minutes of action. New Orleans briefly showed life in the first half but was overwhelmed by a dominant Miami squad that shot an efficient 55.8% from the field and capitalized on a 10-0 run early in the second half to put the game far out of reach.
Despite solid individual efforts from Jamal Cain, who scored 25 points, and Antonio Reeves, who added 19, the Pelicans’ six-game losing streak underscores their challenging circumstances. The team’s reliance on a depleted roster—with seven of their eight players logging heavy minutes the night before—highlighted their ongoing injury woes.
The Pelicans’ pain in the paint was evident, as they were outscored 70-46, exposing a lack of interior resistance. With just one game remaining against the Oklahoma City Thunder, New Orleans will look to salvage pride while clinging to their positioning in the NBA Draft lottery. As the regular season draws to a close, the focus shifts toward recovery and reshaping for a brighter future.
