The Hornets have won back to back playoff games for the first time since the 2000-2001 season. Walker got the Hornets back on track after the HEAT run and scored the team’s next five points.
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Al Jefferson was a craftsman in the post in the first half working for 10 points.
All in all, the Hornets came out with more urgency and played better in Game 3. Lin followed with a 3-pointer from the right wing to push the lead to 14, raising the fans clad in black “Enter the swarm” T-shirts and white Hornets headbands off their seats. Charlotte picked up multiple big rebounds in the final seconds for second-chance points.
A clutch night from Walker carried the Hornets to an 89-85 win.
The victory snapped a 14-year drought between playoff wins for Charlotte franchises, though the team was focusing on the future instead of the past.
He put those fears to rest quickly.
Dirk Nowitzki scored 24 points for the Mavericks, who were hampered by injuries throughout the series. The Hornets ranked ninth in defensive efficiency in the regular season.
OKLAHOMA CITY – Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant combined to score 69 points, leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to an 118-104 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Monday and a five-game series win in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.
That mark ties the all-time National Basketball Association record set by the New York Knicks that stretched from 2001-2013. The Heat are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 home games and 1-4 ATS in their last 5 Wednesday games.
After two deflating defeats in Miami, the Hornets fed off their home crowd to trim the deficit in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference first-round series to 2-1.
Bench points: The Heat got next to nothing from its bench in Game 3, the first playoff game in which Miami actually needed it.
Hornets star Kemba Walker erupted for a playoff career high 34 points and fellow guard Jeremy Lin also had a huge game with 21 points. Frank “the Tank” Kaminsky found his confidence coming out of the locker room after half time, scoring 13 of his 15 points in the third quarter. Jeremy Lin lead the Hornets in scoring with 18 points to go along with 4 rebounds and 4 assists. Cody Zeller added 12 after Clifford opted for Jefferson in the starting rotation.
Monday night’s tipoff is at 7:00 at Time Warner Cable Arena.
Kemba Walker had 17 for Charlotte.
Lin knocked down the 26-footer and the Hive erupted in celebration.
Charlotte was able to slow down some of the HEAT’s best scorers in the series.
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In what is looking like an interesting series, the two teams have battled back and forth to take control of the series.
