Max Strus scored 31 points (24 on 8 3-pointers), and the Miami Heat went on a 34-13 run that bridged the second and third quarters to beat the Charlotte Hornets 132-115.
The Hornets went on an 18-4 run to lead 59-54 with 10 seconds left in the second quarter. Strus’ pull-up 3-pointer put the Heat ahead for good with 11:11 left in the third quarter. He scored 11 points and Jimmy Butler III added 10 during the run. The Heat led 88-72 with 5:40 left in the quarter.
Bam Adebayo had 24 points (22 in the paint) and 15 rebounds. Butler added 20 points and 8 assists on 6 for 8 shooting, and Gabe Vincent scored 20 points off the bench. The Heat had 4 20-point scorers.
For the Hornets, Terry Rozier had 22 points and 6 assists, and LaMelo Ball went 1 for 9 from 3. Kelly Oubre Jr. had 20 points and 8 rebounds.
The Heat shot 52.7% from the field and 39.0% from 3 to the Hornets’ 51.1% and 29.0%. The Hornets got 4 offensive rebounds, about 7 fewer than usual for the shots they missed. The Heat’s starters outscored the Hornets 54-32 in 15 minutes together.