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NBA Game Summary - Miami at New Orleans

New Orleans, LA (SportsNetwork.com) - Alexis Ajinca scored 24 points with eight rebounds and three blocks in place of an injured Anthony Davis to help the New Orleans Pelicans defeat the Miami Heat 104-102 on Friday night.

Eric Gordon registered 20 points with eight assists, while Tyreke Evans contributed 19 points and 11 assists for the Pelicans, who have won four straight.

Luol Deng and Goran Dragic went for 22 and 20 points, respectively, in the loss. Dwyane Wade totaled 11 points on 4-of-16 shooting to go along with eight assists.

"We gotta move on tomorrow and show some grit to win against the best team the East," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.

Miami returns home on Saturday to open a three-game homestand against the Atlanta Hawks.

Mario Chalmers' two 3-pointers represented the Heat's only points over the first six minutes of the fourth as New Orleans worked its way back into the game. Ajinca's free throws tied the game at 88-88 with 5:46 to play. Dragic made a layup at the other end put Miami back up in front.

Gordon nailed a 3-pointer with 2:23 left to tie it up once more.

The Pelicans forced a shot clock turnover with 36 seconds left, then Gordon found Ajinca inside for a layup to give the hosts a 104-102 lead. Omer Asik came up with a block of Hassan Whiteside on the ensuing Heat possession, but he threw it away to give the Heat another chance.

Wade went for the win from 3-point range, but his attempt hit back iron and the Pelicans held on.

"My teammates gave me the ball in the right position, I just had to finish," Ajinca said.

Both teams played it close throughout the game and that was evident in the first half with 13 lead changes and eight ties.

Miami led 25-24 after 12 minutes, then the two teams each shot over 57 percent in the second, with New Orleans making 66.7 percent of its attempts from the field and tying the game at 54-54 at half.

Quincy Pondexter's putback layup gave the Pelicans a one-point edge midway through the third before the Heat went on a 10-2 run to make it 74-67. Miami brought an 82-73 lead into the fourth.

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