NBA Preseason Action at the Kaseya Center
The Miami Heat pulled away in the fourth quarter to secure a 128-118 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans at Kaseya Center, improving to 2-0 in exhibition play while handing New Orleans its first loss of the preseason. Behind balanced interior scoring and late-game execution, Miami capitalized on a dominant final period to seal the home win.
New Orleans established an early rhythm in the opening quarter, jumping out to a 36-33 advantage behind quick transitional play and sharp perimeter shooting. The Heat responded in the second frame, unleashing a 40-point burst to claim a 73-64 halftime lead. Giannis Antetokounmpo led Miami’s scoring push with 18 points on 8-of-13 shooting, while Andrew Wiggins added 13 points in limited first-half action.
The Pelicans battled back during the third quarter, outscoring Miami 32-20 to take a short-lived lead into the final frame. New Orleans received solid contributions from Jordan Poole, who poured in 14 points off the bench, alongside 11-point efforts from Yves Missi, Trey Murphy III, and Jeremiah Fears. However, Miami reasserted control down the stretch, locking down defensively and racking up 35 fourth-quarter points to close out the 10-point victory.
Who These Two Teams Play Next in Preseason
Following their matchup in South Florida, both teams continue their exhibition slates in multi-game homestands and road trips. The Miami Heat remain at Kaseya Center to host the Minnesota Timberwolves, aiming to maintain their undefeated start to the preseason. Meanwhile, the New Orleans Pelicans travel to Dallas to face the Mavericks at American Airlines Center before wrapping up their tune-up games at home.
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