Heat Scorch Hornets at Kaseya Center, Maintain Home Court Dominance
The Miami Heat extended their record to 23-16 after a commanding performance against the Charlotte Hornets, who fell to 8-29 following the contest. The final score read 104-87 in favor of the home team, as the Heat's offense proved too much for the visitors.
At the Kaseya Center, with an attendance of 19,831 fans witnessing a one-sided affair, Miami led for nearly 45 minutes and never looked back. The Heat's largest lead was an impressive 24 points. They outscored the Hornets in every quarter: starting strong with a 26-point opening period and closing out with a consistent scoring effort across each quarter.
Miami showcased their offensive efficiency by shooting an impressive 49 percent from the field and an even more remarkable true shooting percentage of 59. Their three-point game was on point as well, converting at a rate of 44 percent which contributed significantly to their total score. Inside scoring was also dominant for Miami; they put up a notable performance in points in paint with a high conversion rate of 55 percent.
The team's playmakers were on full display as they dished out a total of 27 assists while maintaining control over turnovers with an assist-to-turnover ratio of nearly two (1.93). Defensively, Miami was just as effective; they held Charlotte to only an effective field goal percentage of forty and limited them inside by allowing only thirty-eight points in paint.
On individual performances for Miami Heat, it wasn't just about scoring but also about defensive efforts which included six blocks and six steals that helped maintain their lead throughout the game. Bench contributions were significant too; reserves chipped in with thirty-nine points showing depth and versatility within the squad.
The Charlotte Hornets struggled offensively throughout most parts of the game managing only thirty-five percent from field goals and twenty-four percent from beyond the arc. Despite putting up more shots than Miami (ninety-five attempts), efficiency eluded them leading to fewer conversions (thirty-three made field goals). Their effort on fast breaks didn't yield much either—scoring just four points despite attempting four fast breaks—and they trailed behind significantly when it came to bench scoring contributing only fifteen points compared to Miami's thirty-nine.
Looking ahead for fans eager to follow their team’s progress: The next challenge awaits as Miami Heat will be visiting Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on January fifteenth at seven-thirty PM Eastern Time. Fans can catch this matchup live on BSSUN or YES network depending on their location.