Heat advance to Round of 16
LAS VEGAS – New Orleans had rolled to a 26-point victory over Miami five days earlier and entered Thursday’s matchup as a “favorite” on paper, seeded 19 spots higher. Instead of repeating their one-sided beating of the Heat, however, the Pelicans dropped a hard-fought opener of the single-elimination bracket.
Miami outlasted New Orleans in a high-scoring affair, advancing to the next round and a matchup with either New York or Boston. The Pelicans will conclude their participation in summer league Friday in a consolation round game vs. the Knicks or Celtics.