That strong finish the Charlotte Hornets had to the end of the season means absolutely nothing right now. Looking for their first postseason victory since 2002, the Hornets are hopeful a return to North Carolina is just what they need to get back in this series.
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LOOK AHEAD
Getting back to the hive might just be what the Hornets need to get back in this series. At least they’re hoping it is. Charlotte will have to turn things around at home, where the team performed much better during the regular season. Charlotte’s 30 regular season home wins were the third-most in the Eastern Conference during the regular year, behind only the top two playoff seeds in the conference – Cleveland and Toronto.
The Hornets won 13 of their final 15 regular season home games, including a victory over the league’s second-best team San Antonio. So they have that going for them. Being a bit tougher on the defensive side will also help Charlotte’s chances of slicing the series deficit in half. The Hornets allowed two 40-point quarters the entire regular season. They gave up two 40-pointers in the first six quarters of this series. Miami scored 41 in the first on Sunday and 43 in the second on Wednesday night.
INJURIES
The Hornets were dealt a big blow when Nicolas Batum suffered a left ankle sprain in the fourth quarter of Wednesday night’s game and didn’t return. Batum missed the final regular season game with a sore left ankle. Coach Steve Clifford said he’s “very” concerned about Batum going forward.
KEY MATCHUP
It must be the postseason because Dwyane Wade is playing like a kid again. Three nights after scoring a franchise record 123 points and shooting 57.6 percent in a blowout win, the Heat made 30 of their first 40 shots, hit 57.9 percent for the game and took a commanding 2-0 lead in the series with a 115-103 victory on Wednesday night.
Five players scored in double figures, but it was the veteran Wade who led the charge with 28 points hitting 11 of his 22 field goal attempts. He also dished out eight assists while playing 32 minutes. Wade has connected on exactly half his shots this series and his percentage is still lower than the team’s. The good fortune will likely pass and when it does the onus will be on Wade to get his mates through.
QUICK PICK
The Heat sure have lived up to their team name over the first two games of this series because they have been absolutely on fire. Knocking down 50 percent of your shots in a game is damn good, but the Heat hit over 57 percent in each game and collectively have drained 57.8 percent and 52.9 percent of their threes. It’s been an amazing shooting display that certainly can’t continue, can it?
While it appears as though the Hornets are not playing defense, they actually are, which makes Miami’s feat even more impressive. But getting out of the AAC will change Miami’s fortunes. Charlotte is just a different team at TWC Arena, posting the third-most home wins among Eastern Conference teams. That’s the difference as the Hornets finally pick up that elusive playoff victory.
NBA Odds: Charlotte 106, Miami 100
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Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook! The game between the Miami Heat and Charlotte Hornets will start at 5:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 23, 2016, at Time Warner Cable Arena. The contest will be broadcast nationally on TNT.