Heat beat Hornets 111-105 in NBA Championship Game during the season – ESPN 98.1 FM
The Miami Heat defeated the Charlotte Hornets last night, 111-105, in the NBA Championship.
Top scorers
Jimmy Butler led the way for Miami with a season-high 32 points in 34 minutes. Butler shot 10-14 from the field, which included a drop jumper with 1:11 remaining in the game, to seal the win. Bam Adebayo added 21 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Duncan Robinson scored 18 points and Jaime Jaquez Jr. added 17 points.
Bam usually makes those 20-10 doubles at this point 💥 pic.twitter.com/bSe9hT1wBF
– Miami Heat (@MiamiHEAT) November 15, 2023
PJ Washington led Charlotte’s scoring list with 32 points, with six three-pointers. LaMelo Ball was right behind with 28 points and added 11 assists. After a slower start to the year, Paul has continued to score, averaging 30 points over the last five games.
.@MELOD1P Above and below 🔁 #Let’s fly35 pic.twitter.com/kkoBBUdqYv
– Charlotte Hornets (@Hornets) November 15, 2023
The Hornets were extremely shorthanded, which the Heat took advantage of. They were missing key players Gordon Hayward and Terry Rozier, as well as rookie Brandon Miller. Miles Bridges served the final game in the league which saw him handed a 10-game suspension.
The heat is hot
After a rough start, the Heat turned things around to win six straight games, including a four-game road trip. Miami is averaging 113.8 points per game in this winning streak, compared to just 102.4 during a tough 1-4 start to the season. Scoring more points makes winning easier, at least if you ask Jimmy Butler.
Q: “What do you think is the reason for this 6-game winning streak?”
A: “We scored more points than the other team.”
Jimmy Butler was at the top of his game on the court tonight, and he was clearly at the top of his game during the post-game pressure as well@Miami Heat | #Heat culture pic.twitter.com/HextLTIB5N
– Bally Sports Sun: HEAT (@BallyHEAT) November 15, 2023
“We talked at the beginning of this journey that this month would be an opportunity for us to be able to move around a tough schedule and see if we can get better,” said head coach Erik Spoelstra. The Heat have clearly done that, as they currently sit at 7-4 on the year and sit in third place in the Eastern Conference.
What then?
Miami returns home for a short drive to host the Brooklyn Nets tomorrow night at 7:30. They don’t feel comfortable, however, as they then embark once again on a five-game road trip, facing all Eastern Conference opponents.
Charlotte faces the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday night in another regular season championship game. The Hornets play their next few games at home, hoping to keep their key players healthy and add to their winning list.
