The Heat topped the 100-point mark for the 17th consecutive home game, extending the second-longest streak in franchise history.
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Miami scored 43 in the quarter and its 72 points in the half matched or exceeded what Game 2 losers managed Tuesday night: Boston had 72 in Atlanta, Memphis managed only 68 in San Antonio.
Center Hassan Whiteside also had a masterful performance for Miami, tallying 17 points, 13 rebounds, one assist, one steal, with two rejections.
After setting the team’s playoff record with 123 points in Game 1, Miami shot 58 percent from the field, including 9 for 16 from the three-point line.
CHARLOTTE (103): Batum 3-11 3-3 9, Williams 0-10 0-2 0, Zeller 3-6 2-3 8, Walker 12-29 4-4 29, Lee 5-7 2-3 12, Jefferson 12-17 1-2 25, Lin 2-7 7-8 11, Kaminsky 0-1 4-4 4, Hawes 1-1 3-4 5.
The Charlotte Hornets were one of the feel-good teams of the NBA’s regular season, but the playoffs haven’t treated them kindly. “That has to continue”.
TRAINER’S ROOM: Celtics starting guard Avery Bradley is out for the next two playoff games against the Hawks with a right hamstring injury. We have to find a way to put together 48 good minutes of good defense. “If we can do that we’ll stand a chance”.
There is reason to be optimistic if you are the Hornets.
The Hornets won the battle of the boards in game two, grabbing 39 rebounds to Miami’s 35. A win on Saturday in Charlotte might give the team just enough needed momentum to get things turned around.
When asked his level of concern about Batum’s injury going forward, Hornets coach Steve Clifford responded, “Very”. The Cavaliers hold a 2-0 series lead. If that series goes at least 6 or 7 and the Heat close theirs early, the Heat could have time to get Tyler Johnson incorporated into the offense once he’s ready. Because of the way Whiteside is playing in the current campaign, he is expected to sign a lucrative deal once the season ends and he becomes a free agent. “As we move onto Charlotte, we can’t just bank down on our offense”.
For what it’s worth, Charlotte has been in this same situation before, albeit many years ago. The Hornets are now down 0-2 in the series as they head back to their home court, but they may not have Batum for the rest of the series. Obviously, these two teams are completely different being 15 years apart but certainly something worth noting.
The Heat didn’t come into the playoffs with a ton of momentum, but they’ve been one of the most impressive teams in the playoffs so far and it’s hard to think they won’t sweep the Hornets in this series after winning both Game 1 and Game 2 by double digits. But the Hornets also had Batum for 13 minutes in that half, and won’t have him for any of Game 3 and possibly not for the remainder of the series, due to his strained left foot. “He’s a great player and he would help us”.
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(AP Photo/LM Otero). Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) reaches for the ball against Dallas Mavericks guard Raymond Felton (2) during the second half in Game 3 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series Thursday, April 21, 2016, in Dal…
