MIAMI — Andrew Wiggins delivered a stellar performance with 42 points, marking his second-highest scoring game in his career, as he led the Miami Heat to a 122-105 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday night, ending the Heat’s 10-game losing streak. Tyler Herro also contributed significantly with 29 points.
Wiggins’s 42 points were the highest scored by any Heat player this season, a feat only surpassed by Herro’s three instances of scoring 40 points. Wiggins fell just short of his career-high score of 47 points, which he set while playing for Minnesota against the Los Angeles Lakers on November 13, 2016. He is set to face off against his former team, Golden State, on Tuesday for the first time since being traded to Miami last month.
Nick Smith Jr. and LaMelo Ball tried to keep Charlotte in contention, with Smith scoring 19 points and Ball adding 18 points and 11 assists. Despite leading by 12 early, Charlotte was ultimately unable to hold onto their advantage, cementing their exit from postseason contention. The Hornets haven’t seen playoff action since their first-round loss to Miami in 2016.
**Game Insights**
For the Hornets, this marked the second time this season they led by at least 12 points before falling into a 20-point deficit. A similar scenario played out on December 5 in New York, where they lost 125-101 after initially leading by 13 points. On the other hand, the Heat eagerly await the return of Nikola Jovic, who has missed the last 15 games due to a broken bone in his right hand. Miami’s head coach, Erik Spoelstra, stated that Jovic is maintaining his conditioning and weight-training routine while awaiting a full clearance.
A pivotal moment for the Heat came when they closed the first half with an impressive 24-4 run, making 10 out of 14 shots during the last 7:05 before the intermission, while the Hornets managed only 1 shot out of 12 attempts during that period.
**Statistical Highlights**
This 10-game losing streak tied for the sixth-longest in Heat history. The longer streaks include records of 17, 15, 13, 12, and 11 losses, along with two other 10-game losing streaks.
**Next Games**
Charlotte is set to host Orlando on Tuesday, while Miami will remain at home for a highly anticipated matchup against Jimmy Butler and the Golden State Warriors on the same day.