Pelicans at Heat
Goran Dragic makes his debut for Miami when the Heat begin a home-heavy stretch of their schedule Saturday against New Orleans. Acquired from Phoenix in one of the more significant deals before Thursday's trade deadline, Dragic was not yet active for Friday's 111-87 win in New York. While the Heat have to be excited with Dragic's arrival, they also are thinking of All-Star forward Chris Bosh, who remained in a hospital Friday to monitor a blood clot situation that could end his season.
The Pelicans welcomed back their All-Star forward in the form of Anthony Davis, but he was not a significant factor in a 95-84 loss at Orlando on Friday, the squad's fourth straight setback. Davis had 13 points on 5-of-15 shooting and four of New Orleans' 12 turnovers after returning from a shoulder injury that kept him out of the final two games before the All-Star break. Miami owns five consecutive home victories against New Orleans, which hosts the second and final meeting between the two teams a week from Saturday.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FSN New Orleans, Sun Sports (Miami)
ABOUT THE PELICANS (27-27): New Orleans has averaged 86.3 points during its four-game slide as Davis and sixth man Ryan Anderson — who also missed two games before the break — have offered little on the offensive end. Anderson made 1-of-6 3-pointers against Orlando in his return from an elbow injury and is 5-of-22 from the floor in his last two games. The Pelicans will get a slight boost in the expected debut of point guard Norris Cole, acquired in a trade with Miami before Thursday's deadline to provide some needed depth in the backcourt.
ABOUT THE HEAT (23-30): Two of the players who could see a reduction in playing time with Dragic in the mix — guards Mario Chalmers and Shabazz Napier — put forth impressive efforts against the Knicks. In addition to 13 points and seven assists, Chalmers registered a season-high eight steals, one shy of a personal best established more than six years ago. Napier buried 4-of-5 3-pointers en route to a career-high 18 points while grabbing seven rebounds, also the best mark of his rookie campaign.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Davis averaged 26 points on 57.5 percent shooting and 11.5 rebounds in two meetings with Miami last season.
2. Heat SF Luol Deng has scored in double figures in six straight games since returning from a calf strain.
3. New Orleans is 2-9 on the road against Eastern Conference opponents.