Ranking Miami Heat’s Christmas Wins: What’s Up With Pelicans Matchup?
The Heat hosted the Pelicans to kick off the Christmas games back in 2015 and nobody really knows why. Narratively, the matchup didn’t really make sense.
11. 2015- New Orleans Pelicans at Miami Heat
I guess the league realized the Christmas Day King, Dwyane Wade, needed to be on the court and so did rising superstar, Anthony Davis. The random matchup sparked a very ugly game.
It was an up and down game for both teams as they took turns winning quarters and shooting badly until finally, the Heat found a way to close it in overtime to win it, 94-88. This game was more annoying than captivating.
The overall energy was more of a Wednesday night regular-season game than a Christmas one. It was just kind of forgettable.
Well, except the jerseys. Those jerseys were festive and awesome, regardless of what anyone thinks.
10. 2020- New Orleans Pelicans at Miami Heat
There is no prejudice against the Pelicans, promise. Once again, this felt like a throwaway game for the NBA though, as the Pelicans and Heat have no bad blood or rivalry.
Jimmy Butler, fresh off a trip to the NBA Finals, hosted up-and-coming superstar, Zion Williamson, in what was a very casual, yet historical game. Duncan Robinson tied the three-point record held by Brandon Ingram (2019) with seven treys.
He also led the team in scoring (23), as the Heat won this one pretty convincingly, 111-98, even though Zion Williamson showed out with 32 points. It was a good game, but of no significance like the others.
There were no Christmas Day jerseys either, which still sucks. The NBA has to bring them back.