Friday night the HEAT played the Hornets in Charlotte on Miami’s 2nd night of a back to back. Miami was riding high on a 3 game win streak & Charlotte entered as one of the hottest teams in the league on a 6 game win streak & 16-3 in their last 19 games. This game proved to be a pivotal eastern conference play in gut check for both teams. Miami was shorthanded without Powell, Wiggins, Fontecchio & Jovic. 

The Hornets came out in the first quarter competing hard with a lot of early confidence. Miami was able to counter with some good drives & scores.

Pelle came out attacking the basket with good energy like basketball poetry.

Five Reasons Sports Tweeted, “Strong defensive quarter for a undermanned Heat team. Jakucionis consistently competes.”

A good offense can be your best defense as the HEAT were out in front the majority of the first period.

Hornets Gaurd Brandon Miller was getting any shot he wanted as he lead Charlotte with (11) 1Q points.

Couper Moorhead tweeted, “Pretty even quarter, separation is really only because of a handful of free-throws for Miami. Shot Quality may favor Charlotte slightly, even with some of LaMelo's more ambitious attempts.”

It was the Heat 30, Hornets 27 after one.

In the early part of the 2Q the Hornets took the lead as Charlotte turned defense into offense winning the 50/50 hustle game. Soon enough, Tyler Herro hit a few 3s to help the HEAT back in it & Miami needed all the offense they could get as HEAT Captain Bam Adebayo had a rough 1-of-8 FGs start.

HEAT Center Kel’el ware made sure to get active on offense & made an impact while adebayo struggled offensively.

The Hornets kept pushing the offensive pace, grabbing rebounds & getting downhill on their fastbreaks. Charlotte was also hitting shots in their half court offense from Kobe White straight line drives & benefiting from his playmaking.

Miami HEAT Forward Jaime Jaquez Jr hit a few 3s in relief to stop the Hornets late first half run. This game was back & forth as Charlotte slowed Miami’s offense down & Miami stopped Charlotte when they went to their zone defense.

Couper Moorhead said on X, “Some of it is just personnel, but it's always interesting when Spo goes zone against a high-volume shooting team. Almost like they're knowingly robbing a team of their natural balance.”

Here’s the HEAT getting up for an all night battle.

Thru 2 quarters it was Hornets 61, Heat 58. Tyler Herro led the way for Miami with 13 points & Adebayo finally got out of his offensive funk adding 10 points and 7 rebounds. 

In the 3Q, both teams came out hitting shots early & raising the intensity on both ends as you could tell both teams wanted to get this win. The HEAT got good minutes from Myron Gardner.

Five Reasons Sports said on X, “When did Jaquez Jr. tighten his shot? Looks completely different.”

Charlotte looked as if they had the upper hand with all of their 2nd chance opportunities that resulted in scores off offensive rebounds. Every time the HEAT would bring it within 1 or tie, the Hornets would go up 3 or 4 with timely shooting.

Five Reasons Sports said, “Heat look better offensively when Mitchell takes open shots.” Davion had an active 3rd quarter with 10 points & Miami needed all of it. 

Tyler Herro was  6 of 6 on 3s at this point. 

The Hornets were up 101 to 98 through three periods. Herro was playing a good game with 27 & Jaquez jr added 17. 

In the 4Q it got really competitive & it started to feel like an elimination play in game as both teams turned up the physicality & hustle.

Five Reasons Sports on X, “This has been the most interesting Heat game of the season.”

Miami battled hard as they reclaimed the lead midway through the final quarter like a 4th quarter volcano. Everything you thought this game could be, it was!  Tyler Herro notched a season-high 30 points & kept draining 3s .

Ira Winderman tweeted, “This one has the feel of the previous two road games for the Heat, the games when there wasn't enough at the end against the Bucks and 76ers. So tonight?”

There was a big time momentum swing that happened for the HEAT with a run that put them up 7 with 5 minutes left in the game. 

Tyler Herro took over hitting 3 after 3 late in the game & Charlotte had no defensive answer to stop Tyler’s 3 point aerial assault.

Five Reasons Sports tweeted, “That's the best offensive game Tyler Herro has played in the NBA.” 

The Charlotte Hornets had multiple opportunities to get back in the game late, but they lost their shooting touch as the 3s they were once hitting earlier stopped going in. 

#HEATWin Final: HEAT 128, Hornets 120

Herro: 33pts, 9rebs, 9asts

Adebayo: 24pts, 12rebs

Jaquez: 21pts

Mitchell: 13pts, 7asts

Larsson: 11pts

Ware: 10pts, 4blks

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