Powell Scores 25 as Heat Dominate Hornets in NBA Cup
MIAMI (AP) — Norman Powell led the Miami Heat with 25 points as the team started strong and maintained their lead, securing a 126-108 victory over the Charlotte Hornets in an NBA Cup game Friday night. The win came amid personal adversity for coach Erik Spoelstra, whose home had burned down the day before.
Key Performances
- Andrew Wiggins contributed 22 points for Miami.
- Pelle Larsson added 19 points.
- Charlotte’s rookie Kon Knueppel scored a career-high 30 points.
- Tre Mann and Miles Bridges added 20 and 14 points respectively for Charlotte, with Bridges also grabbing 12 rebounds and dishing out seven assists.
Record-Setting First Quarter
The Heat set a franchise record by scoring 53 points in the first quarter, marking the second highest-scoring first quarter in NBA history. Miami took a 26-point lead with 9:20 remaining in the second quarter.
“Miami scored a franchise-record 53 points in the first quarter — the second highest-scoring first quarter in NBA history — and led by 26 points with 9:20 left in the second quarter.”
Charlotte’s Comeback and Final Outcome
Despite a strong 27-2 run from Charlotte that cut the deficit to 66-65 within minutes, the Hornets never took the lead. The Heat pulled away decisively in the fourth quarter to secure the win.
Statistical Oddity
Miami scored only 19 points in the second quarter, becoming just the second team in the NBA’s shot-clock era (since 1954) to score at least 50 points in one quarter and fewer than 20 in the very next quarter of the same game. The other team to do this was Memphis, on March 5, 2023, in a loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.
“They became the second team in the NBA’s shot-clock era — which started in 1954 — to score at least 50 in one quarter and then fail to score 20 in the next quarter of the same regular season game.”
Despite ups and downs within the game, Miami's explosive start and resilience secured a commanding win over Charlotte.