The
The contest proved frustrating for the visitors, particularly regarding the performance of
Charlotte’s decisive turnaround
The Hornets entered the matchup looking to redeem themselves following a lopsided 128-81 loss to Atlanta just one day prior. Despite missing key starters Coby White and Kon Knueppel, Charlotte found their offensive flow, led by a 34-point display from Brandon Miller. Supporting contributions came from Dennis Schroder with 25 points, Naz Reid with 23, and Grayson Allen with 20.
The game turned in the third quarter when the Hornets utilized a 24-7 scoring run to transform a narrow 68-63 lead into a commanding 92-70 advantage. Charlotte’s perimeter shooting proved vital, as they converted 16-of-43 attempts from beyond the arc, a significant improvement over their performance the previous night.
Miami’s late rally falls short
Despite the deficit, Miami managed to claw their way back into contention. With Antetokounmpo sidelined by foul trouble, coach Erik Spoelstra turned to a lineup featuring Davion Mitchell, Bam Adebayo, Pelle Larsson, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Bobby Portis Jr. This unit successfully erased the gap, forcing ties at 100, 102, and 104 points.
The momentum shifted back to the hosts for the final time with 3:46 remaining. Grayson Allen hit an acrobatic 3-pointer from the left wing while being fouled by Hardaway. Allen converted the subsequent free throw to complete a four-point play, pushing Charlotte ahead 108-104. Miami was unable to bridge the gap further, eventually falling by five points in front of a sellout crowd of 19,611 at the Spectrum Center.
Davion Mitchell paced the Heat with 22 points, while Bam Adebayo added 20, Pelle Larsson scored 15, and Klay Thompson contributed 14. The two teams were facing each other for the first time since their meeting in the 2025-26 Eastern Conference play-in tournament, which saw Charlotte eliminate Miami with a 127-126 overtime victory.
