Short-handed Heat beat Pelicans 123-111 in final game for both teams before All-Star break

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Bam Adebayo had 27 points, 14 rebounds and four blocks and the short-handed Miami Heat beat the New Orleans Pelicans 123-111 on Wednesday night in the final game for both teams before the All-Star break.

Miami used only nine players, with Tyler Herro, Norman Powell, Pelle Larsson and Andrew Wiggins sidelined. Herro missed his 15th straight game.

Jaime Jaquez Jr. added 23 points, Kel’el Ware had 16 points and 12 rebounds and Simone Fontecchio scored 15 points. Eighth in the Eastern Conference, the Heat improved to 29-27. Miami has won 11 of its last 12 against New Orleans

Zion Williamson had 26 points for New Orleans. He has played a career-high 30 straight games and 40 of 56 this season. In his first six seasons, he played 214 of 472 games and never had more than 25 in a row.

Trey Murphy III added 19 points before leaving late in the third quarter because of soreness in his right shoulder. The Pelicans dropped to 15-41. They had won two in a row.

Ware hit a 3-pointer with 2:46 left in the third quarter to cap a 23-10 run that gave Miami a 92-76 lead. The Heat hit four 3s during that surge, one each by Kasparas Jakucionis, Fontecchio, Myron Gardner and Ware.

During that stretch, Jakucionis also hit three free throws after landing on Murphy’s foot on a missed 3 near sideline. Murphy was called for a flagrant foul.

Miami pushed the lead to 17 at 112-95 with 6:19 left in the fourth. After New Orleans cut it to 115-111 on Williamson’s putback, Fontecchio hit a 3 from the left corner with 54 seconds remaining to make it 118-111.

Miami led 58-55 at halftime. Adebayo had 15 points in the half.

Heat: At Atlanta on Friday, Feb. 20.

Pelicans: Host Milwaukee on Friday, Feb. 20.

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New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) goes to the basket against Miami Heat guard Dru Smith (12) in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) passes around Miami Heat guard Davion Mitchell (45) in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) goes to the basket between New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) and center Derik Queen (22) in the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) shoots against New Orleans Pelicans center Derik Queen (22) and guard Jeremiah Fears (0) in the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) drives to the basket against New Orleans Pelicans center Derik Queen in the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra talk to players during a time out during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz Monday, Feb. 9, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

DALLAS (AP) — Dallas Mavericks rookie teenage standout Cooper Flagg will miss their final game before the All-Star break and not play in the NBA's Rising Stars game on Friday night because of a left midfoot sprain.

The Mavericks announced Wednesday night than an MRI revealed the injury that occurred in their 120-111 loss at Phoenix a night earlier, when he had 27 points in 36 minutes. They said further updates “will be provided as appropriate.”

Flagg, the No. 1 overall draft pick last summer, is averaging 20.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists in his 49 games with Dallas.

The 19-year-old recently set an NBA record for a teenager with four consecutive games of at least 30 points. That streak began with a single-game NBA teen record 49 points on Jan. 29 in a home loss to Charlotte and fellow rookie Kon Knueppel, his roommate when they were freshmen at Duke last season.

The Mavericks (19-34) have an eight-game losing streak going into Thursday night's game at the Los Angeles Lakers.

Flagg has averaged 29.7 points, 7.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists in the losing streak, during which the Mavericks last week traded Anthony Davis, the 10-time All-Star who joined the Mavs in a deal a year ago that sent superstar Luka Doncic to the Lakers.

Dallas will play its first three games after the All-Star Game on the road, resuming play Friday, Feb. 20 at Minnesota.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) prepares to defend in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)

Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg shoots over Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) runs the court in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)