Norman Powell pumped in 25 points as the Miami Heat — backed by the highest-scoring quarter in the franchise’s 38-year history — defeated the visiting Charlotte Hornets 126-108 on Friday night.
Kon Knueppel, Charlotte’s rookie first-round pick, scored a game-high and a season-best 30 points, and teammate Tre Mann contributed 20 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.
Miami scored 53 points in their record-breaking first quarter — the second-highest scoring for a first quarter in league history — shooting 67.7% overall (21 of 31) and 66.7% (10 of 15) on 3-pointers. The Heat in that quarter had 13 assists and zero turnovers.
Perhaps the game’s most spectacular play occurred with 5:13 left in the fourth as Miami’s Jaime Jaquez Jr. dunked over 7-foot-1 rookie center Ryan Kalkbrenner. Leading up to the dunk, Jaquez’s cross-over dribble left Hornets rookie Sion James on his backside.
Jaquez, who is 6-6, finished the game with 18 points, nine assists and eight rebounds.
Miami, which entered the game ranked fourth in the NBA in scoring average (122.4), also got 22 points from Andrew Wiggins. Pelle Larsson added 19 points.
It was the Heat’s first game after head coach Erik Spoelstra’s home burned down a day earlier.
Charlotte played without several veterans due to injuries: LaMelo Ball (ankle); Collin Sexton (neck); Brandon Miller (shoulder); Grant Williams (knee); and Josh Green (shoulder).
The Heat, 3-0 at home this season, were without their two All-Stars: Bam Adebayo (big toe) and Tyler Herro (ankle).
Early on, the Heat were hot, making seven of their first eight shots, including five 3-pointers, for a 20-9 lead. That included a four-point play by Powell.
By the end of the first quarter, Miami led 53-33. The Hornets shot 55% from the floor (11 of 20) and yet faced that massive deficit.
In the second quarter, however, the Hornets went on a 27-2 run, cutting their deficit to 66-65. By halftime, the Heat held a slim 72-69 lead.
Miami scored just 19 points in the second quarter, shooting 33.3%, including 1 of 7 on 3-pointers. Knueppel scored 14 points in the second quarter, and Mann led all first-half scorers with 18.
In the third quarter, the Hornets tied the score for the first time, at 80-80 with 6:43 on the clock. But the Heat never relinquished the lead, ending the third on top, 94-88.
Charlotte, which shot just 21.7% from the floor in the third, didn’t get untracked in the fourth, either.
For the game, Miami shot 51.5% overall and 42.9% on 3-pointers. Miami also had a 70-54 edge in paint points.
Charlotte shot 38.1% overall and 25.6% from deep.
–Field Level Media
