The Miami Heat hosted the Charlotte Hornets for their home opener in the regular season. The last time these two teams met was back in the first round of last season’s playoffs, in which the Heat won an intense and memorable seven game series. Heading into this game, the Heat would have continue their momentum from the last game, in order to make a statement this season.
In the first quarter, Hassan Whiteside got Miami on the board with a dunk and a free throw, while Marvin Williams got Charlotte on the board with a mid-range jump shot. Goran Dragic and Luke Babbitt would make a pair of three-pointers, plus Dragic making a technical free throw, while Williams answered back with a three-pointer of his own. Nic Batum scored two free throws to get himself on the board for the Hornets. Whiteside and Dion Waiters would add points to Miami’s lead as a response. With the Heat leading 14 to 7, Kemba Walker would make two free throws for Charlotte, followed by a layup for Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. Tyler Johnson would enter the game for Miami, making two free throws, while Marco Belinelli would make a three-pointer as Miami led 16 to 14. Miami would go on a seven to two run, led by Whiteside and Waiters, only for the Hornets to respond with seven to nothing run to close the first quarter with Miami leading 23 to 21.
In the second quarter, Jeremy Lamb would tie the game for Charlotte with both free throws, only for Rodney McGruder to enter the game for Miami and would make a three-pointer to put the Heat in front. Justise Winslow and Ramon Sessions would make a free throw each for Miami and Charlotte respectively. With Miami leading 31 to 28, Willie Reed would come off the bench for the Heat, helping Winslow and McGruder on the scoring end, while Spencer Hates would do the same thing for Charlotte. With the Heat’s lead up to eight, Waiters and Whiteside returned back to the court and would add more points to Miami’s lead, while Belinelli would make a layup, followed by two free throws from Walker to keep Charlotte in the game. Miami would close the second quarter on an eleven to nine run as they led 57 to 46.
Into the third quarter, Miami would go on a ten to nothing run, led by Dragic, Waiters, and Whiteside. A three-pointer from Walker and a close range shot from Cody Zeller would end Miami’s run. Charlotte would then go on a 24 to 8 run, led by Walker, Belinelli, and Hawes. Despite the rallying run by the Hornets, the Heat maintained the lead by the end of the third quarter with a 77 to 73 lead.
As the fourth quarter commenced, Winslow would make a mid-range jumper to increase Miami’s lead, only for Hawes to answer back with a basket of his own for Charlotte. Lamb would tie the game at 79 for the Hornets, while Sessions would give them the lead. Waiters would tie the game at 81 for Miami, but Lamb would put the Hornets ahead with a pair of jump shots. Charlotte would also go on a 16 to 3 run, led by Batum, Lamb, and Walker. The Hornets would stave off Miami in the closing moments of the game, taking a 97 to 91.
This was quite the tough loss for the Heat, especially when they’re known to have a winning streak when it comes to home openers. The last time the Heat lost a home opener was back in 2006 when they lost to the Chicago Bulls. There were a lot of factors that led to the Heat’s lost to Charlotte, and the first one was the huge amount of turnovers. Miami had 19 turnovers to Charlotte’s 10. Another factor would be the third quarter, in which Charlotte readjusted their defense and offense, while taking advantage of a relaxed Miami team who had built a tremendous lead.
”We’re resilient,” Walker said.
”They’re a well-coached, veteran team,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. ”They weren’t punch-drunk or anything when we went up. … We knew going in we would have to play a complete game against them and we weren’t able to do that.”
This should’ve been a win for the Heat but it all slipped away from them, thanks to Charlotte’s bench players and chippy defense.
For the Hornets, Kemba Walker had 24 points, Jeremy Lamb with 16 points, Marco Belinelli and Nic Batum made 12 points each, while Cody Zeller and Spencer Hawes with 10 points.
For the Heat, Goran Dragic made 14 points, Dion Waiters had 13 points, Tyler Johnson with 12 points, Justise Winslow made 10 points, and Hassan Whiteside with a double-double of 20 points and 15 rebounds.
The next game for the Miami Heat is going to be a real challenge when they host the San Antonio Spurs. That game starts tomorrow at 6pm and will be televised on Sun Sports and on NBA League Pass.
The Heat Check Magazine 