Pelicans start fast, flop in final three quarters in 113-98 loss at Miami

It is now how you start, it is how you finish.

Once again, the New Orleans Pelicans started well on the road at Miami, against a Heat team playing without stars Bam Adebayo and Kyle Lowry.

The encouraging beginning turned into a bad ending, once again, as the Heat downed the Pelicans.

New Orleans came out smoking and took a solid 34-21 lead after one quarter.

In fact, the Pelicans built a 16-point lead.

That was the last hurrah for the Pelicans.

The Heat outscored the Pelicans 92-64 the rest of the way in what turned out to be an easy win for Miami.

New Orleans continued its second half woes, where it has struggled all season long.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker started on fire, making his first three attempts from 3-point range but he cooled off significantly, as did his teammates.

The Pelicans shot just 10-of-35 (28.6%) from 3-point range.

New Orleans did not take care of the ball, committing 17 turnovers as well.

Jimmy Butler picked up the slack for Miami with a triple-double, the 12th of his career, with 31 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.

Once again, the bench play for New Orleans was unacceptable, a detriment as it has been most of the season. New Orleans reserves scored just 13 points with Miami reserves outscoring New Orleans subs 42-13. You have no chance to win that way.

Alexander-Walker finished with 24 points while Josh Hart had 18 points and seven rebounds. Brandon Ingram had 19 points, five assists and four rebounds but committed five turnovers.

Trey Murphy III, the team’s No. 1 draft pick who was chosen largely for his shooting, had a very rough night.

Murphy did not score, going 0-for-6 from the field, including -0-for-5 from 3-point range.

Murphy’s season high is just eight points, so the adjustment to the NBA game is taking longer than hoped for.

On a night where Miami was without two of its top four players, New Orleans could not get it done and the Pelicans were not even close.

Now 2-14, It does not get any easier with the Los Angeles Clippers set to visit New Orleans Friday.

You would like to hear something positive, nice but in fact, there is nothing good to mention about these Pelicans, at this juncture.