Jimmy Butler scored 13 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter, leading the Miami Heat to a 114-106 win over the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday night. The Heat improved to 1-1 as Butler added eight assists and eight rebounds, supporting his dominant performance.
Tyler Herro complemented Butler’s game with five 3-pointers and 22 points, including a key shot that stopped a late Hornets rally. Bam Adebayo posted a double-double, finishing with 12 points and 11 rebounds, while ex-Hornet Terry Rozier contributed 19 points for Miami.
LaMelo Ball led Charlotte with 27 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists, but the Hornets struggled with 20 turnovers.
The Hornets had a hard time maintaining momentum, failing to execute side inbounds on two occasions and were twice whistled for 5-second violations. Their offense lost steam, especially down the stretch, under Miami’s defensive pressure.
Duncan Robinson, Herro, and Butler all contributed from deep, helping the Heat fend off multiple rallies from the Hornets. Robinson’s shooting off the bench added depth to Miami’s lineup, which managed 33 assists on 40 field goals, demonstrating their solid ball movement and effective teamwork.
Charlotte’s lack of depth posed additional challenges, with starters Brandon Miller, Mark Williams, and Josh Green all out due to injuries. These absences have tested Charlotte’s rotations and forced additional minutes for the available starters.
