The Kaseya Center worked it out fast. When Norman Powell started firing, it wasn’t going to be a good night for the Pelicans. It was one of those nights — the rim looks huge, every shot leaves like it’s already through. Nine threes, a career high, and a collective Heat performance to fold New Orleans, 125-106.
Norman Powell was UNCONSCIOUS from beyond the arc in Miami’s win 🤯
🏀 34 PTS
🏀 11-15 FGM
🏀 9 3PM (CAREER-HIGH) pic.twitter.com/Nfx4cndB9u— NBA (@NBA) January 5, 2026
Game flipped after the break
The game had started quiet. Miami controlled. New Orleans hung on. Zion Williamson still found pockets. Then, early in the third. A tiny, fragile lead. And suddenly, the storm.
21-2. A brutal run. No argument. Powell buried three triples, the defence kicked up a gear, passing lanes disappeared. Bam Adebayo put the nail in with a three that stood the crowd up. At that moment, the game slipped out of the Pelicans’ hands.
Norman Powell — a perfect night
11 shots, 9 from beyond the arc. No forcing. No hesitation. Powell kept it simple, quick and clean. Every catch looked preordained for the net. He finished with 34 points, but his impact went beyond the boxscore. He set the tone, freed the offence, turned every transition into an immediate threat.
Around him, Miami rolled. Nikola Jovic (19pts) was tidy and efficient. Kel’el Ware did the dirty work — rebounds, paint game, a double-double (16pts, 12 rebounds). Pelle Larsson injected energy, always in the right tempo. Nothing flashy. Total control.
New Orleans overwhelmed, Zion silenced
The Pelicans never found an answer. Too many turnovers. Too rushed. 24 giveaways, 19 steals conceded. Miami feasted in transition, piling up 31 fast-break points. A bloodletting.
Trey Murphy III : 27 points (10-19 shooting & 7-15 from 3), 8 rebounds & 5 assists in 39 minutes pic.twitter.com/Bdm7eyyNRX
— Lee Harvey (@Sayian_Warrior) January 5, 2026
Trey Murphy III tried to keep the ship afloat, as he always does, with 27 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists. Jeremiah Fears chipped in too (21pts). But Zion Williamson — after an active first half — vanished. Zero points after the break. Locked up, targeted, suffocated by a team defence that never let up.
Heat bounce back, Pelicans keep sinking
After the smack at Minnesota the night before, Miami needed a response. They gave one. Crisp. Almost authoritarian. Even without Tyler Herro on the floor, the Heat found their identity. Aggressive defence. Fast play. Ball movement.
For New Orleans, the bad run goes on. Seven straight losses, just two road wins, and a persistent fragility whenever the pace quickens.
Sunday night held no suspense. Just a player in a zone, a team lined up, and another left behind. Norman Powell didn’t just rain shots. He wrote the script. Miami followed — never once looking back.
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