Wade, Heat edge Pelicans in OT

Davis missed a potential game-winning jumper just before the fourth-quarter buzzer, and the Heat beat the Pelicans 94-88 in overtime. Hassan Whiteside had 16 points, 16 rebounds and 14 blocks while Dwayne Wade added 19 points and five rebounds to help his team. The first game of this action packed holiday pitted the struggling New Orleans Pelicans with the always resilient Miami Heat, in a showdown between past champions and one rising superstar in particular.

The Heat have one of the best defenses in the National Basketball Association, holding teams to just 98.5 points per 100 possessions and keep teams on just 42.8% from the field, although that didn’t show in their most recent loss to Detroit, which included losing an 18-point lead.

There is no denying the fact that the Orleans Pelicans’ fans are expecting the team to do what they did in the last season. Forutnately for New Orleans, Eric Gordon drove to the lane uncontested, too, to tie the game and Bosh missed a tough jumper.

Anderson is good piece to bring off the bench, and he can also be paired with Davis during the end of games in order to give the team more shooting and spacing on the floor. New Orleans has now won three of their last four at home but they’re still only 9-19 on the season overall and 6-6 at home.

The Pelicans (9-20) didn’t take their first lead in the game, 74-72, until 1:45 remained in regulation after Ryan Anderson’s tip-in.

The Pelicans trailed by as many as 13 points in the first half and looked on their way to getting run off the court.

Friday’s game started a Miami’s first and only stretch of four contests in five days this season. Davis had 20 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, three steals and three blocks in the first half.

The Pelicans went cold in the overtime session, however, and the Heat were able to secure the home win, as Wade scored six points in bonus time. Instead of leaving quickly for Orlando after the game as usual, the Heat gave players and staff a few hours for extra holiday celebrating before planning to convene in the evening for the 30-minute flight north.

Pelicans guard Norris Cole, in his fifth pro season, played in his fifth Christmas Day game.