The Charlotte Hornets delivered one of their most complete performances of the season Tuesday night, erupting in the fourth quarter to blow past the Miami Heat 136-106 in a statement win at home.
Leading the charge was All-Star guard LaMelo Ball, who dazzled with 30 points and 13 assists while continuing to cement his role as the engine of Charlotte’s surging offense. Ball also grabbed six rebounds and reached a personal milestone, surpassing 6,000 career points on a third-quarter basket.
Charlotte (35-34) leaned on its depth throughout the night. Coby White provided a major spark off the bench with 24 points, while rookie Kon Knueppel added an impressive 22 in one of his best performances of the season. Brandon Miller chipped in 16 points, and Miles Bridges posted a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Moussa Diabate controlled the glass with 13 rebounds to go along with eight points and four assists.
The game remained competitive through three quarters, with the Hornets holding a narrow 96-88 advantage. But Charlotte flipped a switch in the final period, overwhelming Miami with a dominant 40-18 run that turned a close contest into a rout. The Hornets’ ball movement, defensive pressure, and transition scoring proved too much for a depleted Heat squad to handle.
Miami (38-31) was led by Tyler Herro, who finished with 20 points and eight rebounds, while Norman Powell added 17. However, the Heat were severely short-handed. Star big man Bam Adebayo was sidelined with right calf tightness, marking his first absence since late December. His presence was clearly missed on both ends of the floor.
Miami also continued to deal with injuries to Andrew Wiggins, who missed his sixth straight game with a toe issue, and Nikola Jovic, who sat out his 12th consecutive game with a back injury despite being listed as probable.
The loss snapped momentum for the Heat, who had recently put together a season-best seven-game winning streak before dropping their second straight contest. Despite the setback, Miami remains seventh in the Eastern Conference, just a half-game behind the Orlando Magic.
For Charlotte, the victory marked its ninth win in the last 12 games, keeping the team firmly in the Eastern Conference playoff race, currently sitting 10th and gaining confidence at the right time.
Both teams will be back in action Thursday night. The Heat return home to face the Los Angeles Lakers, while the Hornets will host the Orlando Magic as they look to continue their late-season push.
