Heat Overpower Hornets in 144-117 Victory

MIAMI, FL — The Miami Heat defeated the Charlotte Hornets 144-117 on Tuesday night, improving their record to 3-1. This strong performance was highlighted by a stellar first half from Jaquez Jr., who scored 20 of his 28 points before halftime.

The Heat played without leading scorer Tyler Herro, who was sidelined due to a groin injury sustained during the morning shootaround. In Herro’s absence, Jaquez Jr. led a strong bench performance that outscored the Hornets 58-33.

Jaquez Jr., drafted 18th overall in 2023, shot 9 for 14 from the floor and carried a plus-43 rating, showcasing his explosive start to the season. He is shooting an impressive 69% from the field over the first four games.

Bam Adebayo contributed significantly with 26 points and Jimmy Butler added 21 points for the Heat. Miami closed the first half on an 11-0 run, leading 76-60 at halftime.

The Hornets struggled without their starting forward Gordon Hayward, who missed his second straight game due to a shoulder injury. In his absence, Terry Rozier stepped up, scoring 20 points along with nine assists and eight rebounds.

Despite closing the gap to three points in the second half, Charlotte could not regain control as Miami responded with a critical 23-7 run.

Next up, the Hornets will host the Orlando Magic on Thursday, while the Heat will begin a four-game road trip with a visit to San Antonio.