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Heat-Pelicans Preview

Mar 21, 2016 - 7:30 PM Anthony Davis and Chris Bosh turned in big performances as the Miami Heat downed the New Orleans Pelicans in overtime on Christmas Day.

Neither will take the court in a rematch that will look far different as the Heat continue to push for a division title when they visit the all-but-eliminated Pelicans on Tuesday night.

While Bosh is sidelined without a timetable to return for Miami (40-29) after blood clots in his leg were discovered at the All-Star break, New Orleans (26-43) just decided to shut Davis down for the season as it's faded from contention.

Sitting 8 1/2 games out of the eighth seed and with four teams to leapfrog, the Pelicans announced Monday that their All-Star forward will undergo procedures to repair a recent knee injury along with a torn labrum in his left shoulder.

Davis had been burdened by his ailing shoulder most of the season, and he left Friday's 117-112 loss to Portland before halftime with an unspecified knee problem after a collision while setting a screen.

The fourth-year pro averaged 24.3 points, 10.3 rebounds and 2.1 blocks in 61 games, and his availability to play for the U.S. Olympic team this summer is in question.

Although the most prominent, it's just the most recent in a long list of injuries for the Pelicans. Key contributors Tyreke Evans (knee), Eric Gordon (broken finger), Quincy Pondexter (knee), Omer Asik (various) and Norris Cole (various) have missed extended time.

''This is the most frustrating season I've ever been through,'' said first-year coach Alvin Gentry, a top assistant for Golden State's championship team in 2014-15. ''When I left Golden State to come here, I thought it was the best job available."

New Orleans beat the Los Angeles Clippers 109-105 on Sunday in its first game without Davis while also resting second-leading scorer Ryan Anderson. Jrue Holiday scored 22 points while Asik set a season high with 15 and matched another with 14 rebounds.

Dante Cunningham and Tim Frazier added season highs with 19 and 17 points, respectively.

Davis had 29 points, 15 boards and three blocks against the Heat in December, but the rest of the team shot 37.7 percent in a 94-88 overtime loss that snapped the Pelicans' three-game win streak in the series.

Bosh finished with 30 points and 10 rebounds, but his teammates shot 38 percent. The Heat, however, are 11-5 without Bosh and have shot better than 50 percent in seven of those games to challenge Atlanta in the Southeast Division.

They made 55.9 percent from the field on a 2-1 homestand, hitting 54.8 in Saturday's 122-101 win over Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland. Miami made 11 of 19 3-pointers and have hit 47.2 percent from behind the arc over the last seven games.

It was the Heat's 10th straight 100-point effort, their longest such run since 1994.

Late February acquisition Joe Johnson continued to pay dividends in filling the void left by Bosh - who has been working out with the Heat coaching staff but isn't close to a return. Johnson went 4 of 6 on 3s and scored 18 to raise his average to 15.7 in 11 games with Miami. He has gone 23 of 39 from beyond the arc since arriving from Brooklyn.

Dwyane Wade led the Heat with 24 points and rookie Josh Richardson added 19. Wade became the 41st player to reach 20,000 points and the ninth active one.

''It was great to see,'' coach Erik Spoelstra said. ''Dwyane's the face of the franchise.''