The Charlotte Hornets scratched and clawed, but it was not enough. They lost to the Miami Heat, 111-107, in double overtime on Thursday, going into the All-Star break.
Miles Bridges got off to a blazing start, scoring the Hornets first seven points and 11 of their first 14. The Hornets struggled on the defensive end, especially on the three-point line, as the Heat surged out to a double digit lead in the early going. The offense was not clicking either, with the exception of Bridges. They had problems penetrating the Heat’s defense and had a number of forced passes.
The game opened up as the reserves came in and the Hornets found their groove. Even though the Heat shot an uncanny 74% from the floor, the Hornets still managed to hang around and only trailed by seven at the end of the period, 37-30.
The Hornets went on a 7-0 run to start the second quarter, tying the game at 37, in part to some improved defense and focus. Kelly Oubre Jr., who has been struggling as of late, suddenly found his stroke, connecting on three straight shot from downtown, to give the Hornets the lead and force Heat coach Erik Spoelstra to call a timeout.
Charlotte kept up that defensive intensity for the rest of the quarter, holding the Heat to just 10 points in the second. Oubre and Montrezl Harrell were the catalyst for the Hornets offense, as they went into halftime with a 54-47 advantage.
The third quarter was a defensive battle. Both teams played tight and physical, causing a lot of complaining to the refs about non-foul calls. The Hornets had to go the majority of the quarter without point guard LaMelo Ball due to foul trouble, picking up his fourth. The Hornets missed 13 consecutive shots at one point and only made three baskets from the field all quarter, but they still played the Heat to a 17-17 draw. They scored their points at the charity strike and suffocated the Heat on defense. At the end of the third, Charlotte led by seven, 71-64.
Harrell went on a 7-0 run by himself, to push the Hornets lead to 14 to start the fourth quarter. Duncan Robinson knocked down a three to take the lid off the basket for the Heat. Miami caught a huge break when Robinson connected on a three, while being fouled by Ball, giving him his fifth. The four-point play was a momentum changer and cut into the Hornets 11 point lead. It was part of seven straight Heat possessions that resulted in the Heat taking the lead with just two minutes to play in regulations.
The Heat veterans got some cheap foul calls, but Kyle Lowry missed a critical second free throw to keep the Heats lead at two. Ball found Harrell with a bullet pass to knot the game. Jimmy Butler’s last second shot fell short, partially deflected by P.J. Washington, sending the game into overtime, tied at 87.
After some Miami free throws, a Ball three-point play and a Bridges shot from the great beyond, gave the Hornets the lead, but Lowry came through in crunch time, scoring seven straight points, including a controversial three-pointer with his foot on the line, which was never corrected by the officials. After a Washington field goal and a Heat turnover, Washington found Harrell for a dunk attempt. He was fouled and only knocked down one of the two foul shots. Butler missed another jump shot, which forced the game into a second overtime.
“Unfortunately, we did not have doubt at this time, which is the reason we didn’t stop the play,” crew chief Sean Wright said on the pool report after the game when asked why Lowry’s 3-pointer wasn’t reviewed.
The Hornets scored the first basket in the second overtime, then the Heat rallied back with five straight points. Miami led by three when Ball fouled out with just over two minutes remaining. That is when Butler, who was just 3 of 22 from the field, buried a mid-range jumper and a three-point bomb to give the Heat some breathing room.
The Hornets sliced the lead to two behind two big buckets from Bridges, but Lowry scored on a layup and Heat big man Bam Adebayo rejected Oubre’s three-point attempt to seal the win.
“Yeah, we need this (break),” Hornets coach James Borrego said. “It will be great for us, get away from everything and just refresh and get ready for that final stretch run. Try to get some healthy bodies and get guys back and ready to go.”
Lowry scored a team-high 25 points, 12 in the two overtimes, with nine rebounds and five assists for the Heat. Robinson added 21 points, along with four rebounds and five assists. Butler scored 15 points, with 10 rebounds and eight assists. PJ Tucker had 15 points, 10 rebounds and two assists. Adebayo contributed 15 points, 13 rebounds and five assists.
Bridges had a game-high 29 points along with 11 rebounds and two assists for the Hornets. Harrell added 24 points and eight rebounds off the bench. Washington scored 15 points, with 14 rebounds and two assists. Ball had a triple-double with 14 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds.
The Heat will travel to New York to take on Julius Randle and the Knicks on Friday, Feb. 25. The Hornets host Fred VanVleet and the Toronto Raptors also on Friday, Feb. 25.
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