CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In a thrilling contest on Wednesday night, the Miami Heat triumphed over the Charlotte Hornets with a score of 98-94. Tyler Herro shone for the Heat, scoring 27 points, while Duncan Robinson contributed significantly with 22 points, nailing six shots from beyond the arc. Bam Adebayo also made an impactful contribution, recording a double-double with 10 rebounds and 10 assists, helping the Heat rebound from a previous narrow loss to the Milwaukee Bucks in an NBA Cup matchup.
On the other side, LaMelo Ball led the Hornets with a commendable performance, achieving 32 points along with 10 rebounds. However, the team struggled overall, suffering their fifth defeat in six games. Brandon Miller notched up 21 points and rookie Tidjane Salaun impressed with a career-high 17 points.
The game had its dramatic moments as the Hornets managed to claw back from a 20-point deficit to take the lead, thanks to a crucial three-pointer from Salaun with just 42 seconds remaining. However, their lead was quickly challenged by Herro, who responded with a three-pointer of his own, followed by a steal. After being fouled, Herro converted one of his two free-throw attempts, leaving the Hornets with a final opportunity to either tie or claim victory. Cody Martin was fouled, yet he was unable to convert on both free throws. In the closing seconds, Miami’s Kel’el Ware sealed the victory by hitting two free throws.
In an unfortunate turn for the Heat, star player Jimmy Butler exited the game in the third quarter due to back pain and did not return for the final period.
Key Takeaways:
The Heat had a strong start, largely due to Robinson’s scoring prowess, as he accounted for 13 of the team’s first 17 points, including three three-pointers. Conversely, LaMelo Ball, who had been averaging an impressive 43 points over his last three games, appeared hampered by a right wrist injury throughout the match, often seen gripping his wrist during breaks in play.
A pivotal moment occurred when the Hornets sought to regain the lead with less than 10 seconds left, but Herro intercepted Ball’s pass intended for Miller, shifting the momentum back to Miami. In terms of shooting performance, Ball struggled significantly, finishing with 11 makes out of 35 attempts from the field, including 7 of 20 from three-point range, alongside a troubling seven turnovers.
Looking ahead, the Miami Heat will face off against the Toronto Raptors on Friday, while the Charlotte Hornets are set to host the New York Knicks for their next matchup.