New Orleans Pelicans vs Miami Heat Box Score on Dec 23, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Dec 23, 2017

MIAMI -- Ian Clark scored 19 points to lead the New Orleans Pelicans to a 109-94 win over the Miami Heat on Saturday night.

Clark shot 7 of 11 from the field, including 5 of 7 on 3-pointers. DeMarcus Cousins finished with 16 points, seven rebounds and eight assists and Anthony Davis scored 17 points as the Pelicans (17-16) swept their back-to-back set in Florida games after their win Friday at Orlando.

The Pelicans scored 13 unanswered points and built a 17-point lead midway through the third quarter. Clark's two 3-pointers and Davis' triple keyed the run. Davis' layup with 3:35 remaining capped the surge and gave the Pelicans an 81-64 lead.

Clark's fifth 3-pointer with 8:41 remaining in the fourth period gave New Orleans its first lead of 20 points or more at 92-71.

The Pelicans shot 15 of 25 from long range, while Miami shot 10 of 32 after a 16-of-24 3-point performance Friday against Dallas.

E'Twaun Moore scored 15 points for the Pelicans. Jrue Holiday and Darius Miller also finished in double figures for New Orleans with 13 and 12 points, respectively.

Tyler Johnson scored 20 points for Miami (17-16). Heat starting point guard Goran Dragic returned from a three-game absence and finished with 13 points. Dragic was sidelined because of a left elbow strain.

Miami reserve forward James Johnson also played after missing three games because of left ankle bursitis. Johnson was limited to eight minutes and scored seven points.

Three-pointers from Dante Cunningham, Jameer Nelson and Moore keyed a 15-3 run that helped the Pelicans erase a three-point deficit midway through the second quarter. Moore's triple with 3:42 remaining in the period capped the surge and gave the Pelicans a 50-41 lead.

Dragic's two free throw with 48 seconds left cut New Orleans' lead to 54-53 before Moore's jumper with 17 seconds remaining gave the Pelicans a 56-53 lead at halftime.

NOTES: The Pelicans allowed fewer than 100 points for the second consecutive game. New Orleans began its games in Florida with a streak of 12 consecutive games allowing more than 100 points. ... New Orleans finished with a season-high 10 blocked shots. The Pelicans blocked eight shots in two previous games. ...MRI and X-ray results on G Dion Waiters' sprained left ankle were negative, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. Waiters injured the ankle in the first quarter of Miami's 113-101 victory over Dallas Friday night and didn't return. His return to the lineup is uncertain. ... G Goran Dragic's availability Saturday was uncertain until his work out before tipoff. Dragic missed the previous three games because of a left elbow strain.