Herro scores 32, Adebayo nears triple-double and Heat never trail in 119-108 win over Pelicans

MIAMI (AP) — Tyler Herro scored 32 points, Bam Adebayo flirted with a triple-double and the Miami Heat beat the New Orleans Pelicans 119-108 on Wednesday night.

Adebayo finished with 23 points, nine rebounds and 10 assists for Miami, which got 17 points from Duncan Robinson.

Trey Murphy III scored 34 for the Pelicans, who played on the same day that at least 15 people were killed in New Orleans when a truck drove into a crowd of New Year's revelers on Bourbon Street in an attack that President Joe Biden described as “despicable.”

The Pelicans — who never led — lost for the 29th time in their last 32 games and are 1-20 in their last 21 contests.

Pelicans: CJ McCollum scored 22 for New Orleans, and Murphy's 34 points tied for the third-most by a Pelicans player this season. McCollum had 36 on Dec. 12 and Murphy had 35 on Dec. 27.

Heat: Jimmy Butler, in his first game following a five-game absence because of illness, had nine points, four rebounds and two assists in 25 minutes on 3-for-5 shooting. Miami is now 12-9 in games where Butler plays this season.

Herro missed his first four 3-point attempts, then threw a terrible alley-oop lob that he intended for Butler late in the first half. The pass went in — for three points, which technically became the first of five straight makes for Herro from beyond the arc.

The Pelicans have dropped 15 in a row on the road. It's the 100th time in NBA history that a team has had a road losing streak of 15 or more in the same season.

Heat host Indiana on Thursday, and Pelicans host Washington on Friday.

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

New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray (5) shoots as Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro (14) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

New Orleans Pelicans guard Trey Murphy III (25) looks to pass as Miami Heat forward Haywood Highsmith (24) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro (14) shoots as New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray, left, defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) dunks during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) shoots as New Orleans Pelicans forward Herbert Jones (2) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) drives to the basket and is fouled by New Orleans Pelicans center Yves Missi, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Miami Heat guard Alec Burks (18) goes to the basket as New Orleans Pelicans guard Jordan Hawkins (24) and center Yves Missi (21) defend during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

New Orleans Pelicans center Daniel Theis, left, defends Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler is introduced before an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro (14) goes to the basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Former United States youth international Brandon Austin waited around a decade for his first start for Tottenham.

When he got it, the 25-year-old goalkeeper quickly found out how unforgiving the Premier League is.

Austin, who possesses dual American/English nationality and once played for the U.S. under 18s, conceded in the sixth minute of his senior debut for Spurs when England winger Anthony Gordon drove a low shot into the far corner for Newcastle to make it 1-1.

It was the first shot Austin faced.

Austin and Tottenham wound up losing 2-1.

Austin was playing because first-choice goalkeeper Vicario has been out injured and back-up Fraser Forster fell ill on the eve of the match.

Born outside London, Austin was previously with Chelsea before joining Tottenham’s youth set-up. He was part of the basketball team at his school and that’s no surprise – his father, Neville, was a pro basketball player, representing England having played collegiately for the Georgia Bulldogs.

Brandon Austin has played for Spurs’ youth teams from 2014 and has been a regular member of the first-team squad since returning from a loan spell at Orlando City in 2021. He has appeared in Tottenham’s senior matchday squad on 78 occasions prior to his debut, the club said.

“He's had to be patient — you never know when these opportunities are going to come around,” Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou said, “but it did today and he handled it really well and it's a credit to him.”

This could yet prove to be his only appearance for Tottenham, which has been linked with the signing of another goalkeeper with Vicario injured.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Brandon Austin warms up before the English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Saturday Jan. 4, 2025. (John Walton/PA via AP)

Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Brandon Austin catches the ball from a corner during the English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Saturday Jan. 4, 2025. (John Walton/PA via AP)

Newcastle United's Anthony Gordon, center, scores past Tottenham's Brandon Austin during the English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Saturday Jan. 4, 2025. (John Walton/PA via AP)