NBA highlights: Heat triumph over Pelicans Amid ejections
In a heated contest on Friday night, the Miami Heat secured a 106-95 victory against the New Orleans Pelicans, a game marked by a brawl that led to four ejections early in the fourth quarter.
Bam Adebayo led the Heat with 24 points, complemented by Jimmy Butler's 23 points before his ejection. The clash intensified when Kevin Love committed a hard foul on Zion Williamson, sparking skirmishes that resulted in the ejections of Butler, Thomas Bryant, Naji Marshall, and Jose Alvarado.
Adebayo shone in the fourth quarter, adding 12 points to his total, while the Pelicans struggled, scoring only 15 points. Butler, returning from a three-game absence, contributed nine rebounds, six assists, and three steals to the victory. Duncan Robinson and Tyler Herro also made significant contributions with 17 and 15 points, respectively.
The Pelicans' effort was led by Williamson with 23 points, supported by Herbert Jones and Jordan Hawkins. The absence of Brandon Ingram due to illness was felt as the Pelicans' four-game winning streak came to an end.
In other NBA action, the Oklahoma City Thunder set a season-high in points in their win against the Washington Wizards, and the Golden State Warriors showcased a strong defensive performance against the Charlotte Hornets. The Los Angeles Lakers edged out the San Antonio Spurs, while the Philadelphia 76ers overcame the Cleveland Cavaliers. Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, Milwaukee Bucks, and Toronto Raptors also secured wins in their respective matchups, adding excitement to the post-All-Star break games.
