For the first time in a recent home opener game, The Heat no longer had the “Big Three” that won two NBA titles and got them to four championship series in four years. And so, The Charlotte Hornets won a game Friday against a fierce rival, but in doing so they lost their starting center. The Heat lost 97-91.
After an impressive win to start the season, the Miami Heat looked to improve to 2-0 with a victory in their home opener over the Charlotte Hornets. But Hassan Whiteside’s second double-double was not enough for Heat vs. Hornets.
Team captain Udonis Haslem grabbed a microphone and addressed the crowd before tip-off, promising them that “we will play as hard as we can for you guys every night.”
The Heat shot 47 percent in the first half, 28 percent in the second half. Miami stretched an 11-point halftime lead out to 65-46 early in the third — just before Whiteside went to the bench with his fourth foul, one of many issues in what became a total unraveling by the Heat.
The Hornets never looked back. Walker found Batum for a 3-pointer with just under 3 minutes left to put the Hornets up 10. Miami got within three in the final moments, but no closer the rest of the way. Roy Hibbert started at center, played the first 4:30, and did not return because of right knee soreness. Cody Zeller started the second half in his place.
Jeremy Lamb, who struggled in the season-opener in Milwaukee, made a runner late in the third quarter to cut the deficit to a single point. A really tough shot.
The Heat really blew a big lead and lost to the Hornets in home opener. Home games losses have been a real trouble for the Heat.
Charlotte Hornets took on the Miami Heat in their 2016 Home Opener Game. The Heat lost 97-91 on Friday night. Miami’s 29th NBA home opener results.
