An 18-0 run in the third quarter blew the game wide open and propelled the Charlotte Hornets over Miami Heat, 96-80 in Game 3 of their first round playoff series at the full house Time Warner Cable Arena.
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-Miami had trouble stopping dribble penetration tonight by Charlotte guards.
Meanwhile, the Hornets were desperate for their first playoff win in 14 years and it showed in Game 3 as the Hornets were clearly the team playing with a better sense of urgency. But that was all about to change. I think all three games have had a big burst of energy and momentum when one side has been able to separate. J.J. Barea is hopeful as well following a solid showing in his return after missing a game with a right groin strain. “Now we know what their different lineups are going to look like”.
A layup by Courtney Lee with 9:18 left in the game extended the lead to 86-63.
Now the series is 2-1 in favor of the Heat.
Kaminsky gave the Hornets a spark in the third quarter with 11 points, including two spin moves against Wade and a turnaround jumper over Joe Johnson. Charlotte did not let up.
Miami pushed the lead out to five points a little more than halfway through the first quarter, but Charlotte started to close the gap from there, led by super-sub Jeremy Lin who scored 8 points in his first five minutes in the game.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. | Kawhi Leonard scored 32 points, and the San Antonio Spurs beat the Memphis Grizzlies 96-87 on Friday night to take a 3-0 lead in their Western Conference first-round series.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. | After the Charlotte Hornets dropped the first two games of their first-round series against the Miami Heat, team owner Michael Jordan and assistant coach Patrick Ewing approached coach Steve Clifford with a suggestion: Post up rookie 7-footer Frank Kaminsky more.
Frank Kaminsky had four points in the previous two games, but went off for 13 third quarter points.
It is rare, with the past decade of contentiousness, to consider the Heat and Mavericks as bedfellows, but what Dallas accomplished Monday night apparently also had Heat coach Erik Spoelstra sleeping more restfully. They’re as good a team as we are if they get to their game.
The Hornets would push the lead to 24 in the fourth quarter with Lin scoring and creating off the fast break. Their last series win came against Orlando in the first round that year. But Charlotte took care of the ball, giving up only three turnovers all night long. “We got to expect to win these games with our defense, and our defense has to be better”.
Kaminsky wasn’t the only player to step up with Batum out and star guard Kemba Walker struggling (17 points on 4-of-19 FG).
Miami’s bench scored 13 points while Charlotte’s bench lit up the Heat with 34. On Apr. 20, Wade scored 28 points with 8 assists; Heat point guard Goran Dragic went 6-of-12, scoring 18 points.
With this win, the Hornets avoided tying an National Basketball Association postseason record 13 straight playoff losses set by the New York Knicks.
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After dismal showings in two losses at Miami, the Hornets returned home, where they went 30-11 during the regular season and clearly fed off the home crowd.
