They missed nine straight shots during Charlotte’s 18-0 run and finished at 34.2 percent from the field. The fourth quarter was mostly a wash with the score barely changing.The Hornets will again be without one of their best players.Kemba Walker contributed 17 points for the Hornets and rookie Frank Kaminsky added 15. The Charlotte Hornets had nine more free throw attempts than Heat, and Whiteside had some choice words about the officiating after the game.
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Meanwhile for the Heat, veteran forward Joe Johnson led the charge in the defeat recording 16 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and one block.
The Hornets will try to put together back-to-back solid defensive efforts and even the series at two wins apiece when they host the Heat in Game 4 on Tuesday.
Miami, which has lost six of eight road games, was red-hot at home in the opening two games but cooled off considerably Saturday. He said, “You know, I’ve just got to do a better job of looking out for Cody (Zeller) flopping”, Whiteside said.
Charlotte Hornets head coach Steve Clifford talks with guard Kemba Walker (15) during a break in the action against the Miami Heat during Game 3 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals at Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, N.C., on Saturday, April 23, 2016. They would eventually get the win after maintaining pressure in a 123-91 affair. The Heat got just 79 shots up compared to Charlotte’s 90.
“Throughout the year, I’ve made big plays down the stretch”, Walker said. That would be much more hard without Whiteside, who has arguably been the best player in the series.
Oklahoma City shot 50.6 percent from the field and outrebounded the Mavericks 42-35.
The Charlotte Hornets stay alive with the playoff series tied at 2-2 with the Miami Heat.
Kevin Durant scored 19 points before he was ejected in the final minute for a flagrant foul on Dallas’ Justin Anderson. But unlike Game 3, where the Heat faltered after the Hornets went on a 18-0 run, the Heat starters rallied to bring the Heat within one, 60-59.
Charlotte has been stout on defense on its court, limiting Miami to 39.5 percent shooting.
Now the attention turns to Erik Spoelstra and the Heat as they figure out ways to counter Charlotte’s winning solution. Walker made a 3-pointer from the left wing, added a floater in the lane and another pull-up jumper to push the lead to 87-80.
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The three turnovers in the Hornets win certainly gave them a boost, Miami finished the game with 14 turnovers, tonight it will be interesting to see which team wins the turnover battle because it’s going to have an impact on the contest.
