It appears the Miami Heat will continue to spread holiday cheer in the national spotlight.
The Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson is reporting that when the NBA announces its full schedule – more than likely on Tuesday, August 11th – that the Heat will find themselves spending Christmas at home with the New Orleans Pelicans.
Per league source, tentative (not yet definite) NBA schedule in circulation has New Orleans playing the Heat on Christmas in Miami at noon.
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) August 5, 2015
The Heat on Christmas is becoming what the Dallas Cowboys are to Thanksgiving, as this would mark their 12th game on the holiday, and their sixth consecutive appearance. The Heat are 9-2 all-time on Christmas, and 4-0 at home.
The Pelicans, fresh off a playoff appearance in the Western Conference, will play their second Christmas Day game – the first was a 2008 loss to the Orlando Magic. This time, they’ll be bringing with them a celestial body that takes the human form of Anthony Davis. The noon tip-off right after gifts are opened provides a nice spotlight for the up-and-coming Pelicans and the reloaded Heat.
Of course, many Heat fans were probably hoping for a Christmas rematch with LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Miami won last season’s Christmas meeting, 101-91, in LeBron’s first game back in Miami after
running off
returning to Cleveland in the summer of 2014. One can wonder if the NBA is leaving the matchup of the two perceived Eastern Conference powers for another marquee date – Opening Night. That scenario would probably occur in Cleveland, where the Heat could stand front and center as the Cavs raise their Eastern Conference Championship banner.
While a Pelicans/Heat pairing might not immediately jump out as a marquee game, this game will feature Davis and the Heat’s Hassan Whiteside going head-to-head. Even though Davis is primarily a power forward, he’ll more than likely get his fair share of time dealing with Whiteside, and vice versa.
Another subplot could be former Heat point guard Norris Cole making his second appearance in Miami in a Pelicans jersey. Cole was a part of the blockbuster deal that brought point guard Goran Dragic to Miami. Ironically, Cole’s first game with the Pelicans after the deal took place in Miami. Although currently a restricted free agent, the Pelicans have shown interest in bringing Cole back to New Orleans.
The Pelicans swept last season’s series between the two teams, 2-0.