The Miami Heat set a franchise mark and put on an offensive clinic in a 126-108 rout of the Charlotte Hornets on Friday, driven by a blistering 53-point first quarter.
Record Opening
Miami exploded early, dropping 53 points in the first quarter – the highest single-quarter mark in franchise history and the second-highest in NBA first-quarter history. They hit 21 of 31 shots (67.7 %) overall and drained 10 of 15 threes (66.7 %) in that frame, while tallying 13 assists and zero turnovers.
Leading the Charge
Norman Powell led the Heat with 25 points. Jaime Jaquez Jr. chipped in 18 points, nine assists and eight rebounds, also delivering a highlight-reel dunk late in the game. Supporting efforts included Andrew Wiggins with 22 and Pelle Larsson with 19.
Hornets Fight Back — Too Late
Charlotte managed to claw back after the blowout start. Rookie Kon Knueppel posted a career-high 30 points, and teammate Tre Mann delivered 20 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. The Hornets even went on a stunning 27-2 run in the second quarter to cut the lead to one (66-65) at one point. However, Miami regained control in the second half and never let Charlotte pull ahead.
Context & Takeaways
Remarkably, the Heat achieved all of this without their two All-Stars, Bam Adebayo (toe) and Tyler Herro (ankle). It was also the first game following head coach Erik Spoelstra’s home fire, adding emotional context to the performance. (Reuters) The Heat’s hot start proved decisive; despite a mid-game lull (Miami scored only 19 in the second quarter) the cushion was large enough to weather the Hornets’ rally.
For the Hornets, this game underscores their vulnerabilities: absence of key veterans and an inability to sustain momentum after explosive spurts.
