The Miami Heat took down the Charlotte Hornets in dominant fashion Tuesday night, winning by 27 points. Miami controlled the game from start to finish, outscoring Charlotte in every quarter — including a 39-26 second frame that broke the contest open.
Despite Charlotte’s strong start to the season, and with Tyler Herro and Norman Powell sidelined by injuries, many expected a tighter matchup. That, however, was not the case.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. was a major reason why. The third-year forward continues to thrive off the bench, scoring 28 points on 9-of-14 shooting, including 2-of-4 from 3-point range. He also went a perfect 8-for-8 from the free-throw line and added four rebounds, five assists and one steal. His plus-minus of +43 tied his own mark set earlier this season for the third-highest in franchise history. Over his last three games, Jaquez Jr. is averaging 20.6 points.
Bam Adebayo and Andrew Wiggins also delivered strong performances, each scoring more than 20 points while shooting over 50% from the field. Adebayo showcased his improved long-range shot, going 3-of-5 from beyond the arc.
With the win, the Heat improved to 3-1, rattling off three straight victories after dropping their opener to the Orlando Magic. Miami now turns its attention to a tough road test against Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs, one of only four remaining undefeated teams alongside the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, the Chicago Bulls and the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Spurs and Heat are set to square off Thursday night.
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