Overview
- Miami surged to a 64-38 lead with 9:20 left in the second before Charlotte’s 27-2 run cut it to 66-65; the Hornets never led and the Heat pulled away in the fourth.
- Norman Powell scored 25 points, with Andrew Wiggins adding 22 and Pelle Larsson 19, as nine Heat players scored in the opening period that included 10 made threes.
- Rookie Kon Knueppel paced Charlotte with a career-high 30 points, while Tre Mann had 20 and Miles Bridges tallied 14 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists.
- The 53-point first quarter stands as the second-highest opening period in NBA history, trailing Golden State’s 55 in 2023.
- Erik Spoelstra coached a day after his home burned down as Miami opened NBA Cup pool play shorthanded without Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro, while Charlotte was without LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller and Collin Sexton.