Miami Heat

Last Tuesday night, the Mavericks were defeated 113-111 by the New Orleans Pelicans. New Orleans was without two of its best players, Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram, but the Mavericks couldn’t find a shot in the second half but climbed back before Luka Doncic missed a potential game-winner. He had 37 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists. Doncic made 16 of 30 shots and 11 of 13 three-pointers. Dallas led by six in the fourth quarter when Wood’s 3-pointer scored 97-91. New Orleans Pelicans with a 7-0, led by CJ McCollum’s step-back jumper from sixteen feet. Both teams went back & forth before Luka’s trio fell behind at the buzzer.

Brooklyn played the Milwaukee Bucks last Wednesday night and will play back-to-back second rounds in that game. Their defense struggled in their previous match, a 134-124 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday. Kevin Durant & Kyrie Irving each scored 37 points for the Nets, and Nix Claxton had 16.

Brooklyn again struggled to stop anyone this year, which was a  problem for them last season and one of the main reasons the Boston Celtics swept them in the playoffs. Ben Simmons was supposed to help them in that department, but he’s been a shell of his former self. Rival clubs are averaging more than 123 points per game, and the Mavericks suffered a crushing loss against the Pelicans. You can bet they’ll open the game with a better shot. Of course, Luka dropped 37 shots in that match and got whatever he wanted, save for the final Shot. Finding this match was a back-and-forth, with the total number exceeding the projected numbers.