Brandon Miller Scores 34 Points as Hornets Beat Winless Heat 115-110

Miami Heat Start the Season 0-3

The Charlotte Hornets bounced back from one of the worst losses in franchise history with a 115-110 victory over the winless Miami Heat on Saturday, behind a 34-point performance from Brandon Miller at Spectrum Center. Charlotte responded emphatically after suffering a 128-81 defeat against Atlanta in its home opener Friday, a 47-point loss that ranked as the fifth largest in franchise history.

The Hornets improved to 2-1 by finding their shooting touch and holding off a late Miami rally in front of a sellout crowd of 19,611. Miller led the way with 34 points, while Dennis Schroder added 25. Naz Reid contributed 23 points, and Grayson Allen finished with 20 as Charlotte overcame its disappointing performance a night earlier. The Heat fell to 0-3 despite a balanced offensive effort led by Davion Mitchell, who scored 22 points. Bam Adebayo added 20 points, Pelle Larsson had 15, and Klay Thompson finished with 14.

Hornets Find Their Shooting Touch

After struggling mightily from beyond the arc Friday, Charlotte delivered a much-improved performance from 3-point range. The Hornets connected on 16 of 43 attempts from deep after making just 11 of 51 in their blowout loss to Atlanta. Those long range shots proved particularly important during a decisive third-quarter surge that allowed Charlotte to take control of the game.

Leading 68-63 with 10½ minutes remaining in the third quarter, the Hornets unleashed a 24-7 run, fueled by five 3-pointers, to build a commanding 92-70 advantage with 2:55 left in the period. The offensive explosion energized the home crowd and put Charlotte in position to secure its second victory of the season.

Heat Rally After Antetokounmpo Fouls Out

Miami refused to go away despite falling behind by 22 points. With Giannis Antetokounmpo battling foul trouble, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra turned to a lineup featuring starters Mitchell and Adebayo alongside reserves Larsson, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Bobby Portis Jr. The group helped Miami mount a determined comeback, gradually chipping away at Charlotte’s lead and tying the game at 100, 102 and 104.

Antetokounmpo, who had averaged 35.5 points per game in his first two appearances following his blockbuster offseason trade from the Milwaukee Bucks, was held to just 14 points. He ultimately fouled out with 1:57 remaining, leaving Miami without one of its primary offensive weapons during the closing stages. The Heat’s rally appeared to have shifted the momentum, but Allen delivered the decisive play with the game tied at 104 and 3:46 left.

Allen’s Four Point Play Seals the Victory

With the 24-second shot clock expiring, Allen launched an acrobatic 3-pointer from the left wing while drawing a foul from Hardaway. Allen converted the ensuing free throw to complete a four-point play and give Charlotte a 108-104 lead. The clutch sequence restored the Hornets’ momentum and provided the cushion they needed to finish the game.

Miami remained within striking distance but could not get closer than three points the rest of the way as Charlotte held on for the five-point victory. The win offered a measure of redemption for the Hornets following Friday’s embarrassing defeat and demonstrated their ability to respond under pressure.

Previous Play In Meeting Added to the Rivalry

Saturday’s matchup marked the first meeting between the teams since Charlotte eliminated Miami from the 2025-26 season with a 127-126 overtime victory in the Eastern Conference play-in tournament.

LaMelo Ball, who delivered the game-winning shot in that contest, is no longer with the Hornets after being traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves during the offseason. This time, Miller and Allen took center stage, helping Charlotte earn another important victory over its Eastern Conference opponent.

For Miami, the loss extended a difficult start to the season. The Heat showed resilience by erasing most of a significant deficit, but their inability to contain Charlotte’s perimeter shooting and execute in the final minutes proved costly.

Up Coming NBA Action

The Heat will look to secure their first victory of the season when they host the Dallas Mavericks on Monday. Miami will need a stronger overall performance and greater consistency late in games to avoid another close defeat. The Hornets will also return to action Monday, hosting the Washington Wizards as they attempt to build on Saturday’s bounce-back performance and continue their positive start to the season.