The Charlotte Hornets defeated the Miami Heat, 113-112, at American Airlines Arena on Saturday night.
It would have been difficult to envision the final score at the half, when the Hornets (2-1) held a commanding 72-52 lead. However, the Heat (1-2) refused to be embarrassed in their home opener, shaving 10 points off their deficit with a 30-point third quarter and matching that total in the fourth while holding the visitors to 21. That left them just a point short at the final buzzer, but Miami's bench generated 43 points to help spearhead the rally. Ultimately, the Heat won both the rebounding battle by a 49-40 margin and slightly out-shot Charlotte, 46.1 percent to 44.1 percent.
Kemba Walker led the way with a game-high 39 points, a total he supplemented with seven assists and five rebounds. Malik Monk was a distant second with 15 points, one rebound, one assist and one steal. Marvin Williams generated 13 points, six boards, one assist and three blocks. Jeremy Lamb supplied 12 points, five rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks. Cody Zeller managed 11 points and eight rebounds.
Dwyane Wade paced the Heat with 21 points off the bench, adding three rebounds, three assists and two blocks. Goran Dragic provided 20 points, seven assists and four rebounds. Rodney McGruder continued his productive start to the season with a 19-point, 10-rebound double-double that also included two assists, two steals and one block. Derrick Jones, Jr. and Bam Adebayo -- the latter another key bench performer -- mustered matching 12-point tallies. Hassan Whiteside contributed an 11-point, 15-rebound double-double that also included two blocks.
The Hornets remain on the road and head north of the border to tangle with the Toronto Raptors on Monday night, while the Heat remain home and next take the court against the New York Knicks on Wednesday evening.
