Heat Host Charlotte Looking To Go Up 2-0 In First Round Of Playoffs
Follow CBSMIAMI.COM: Facebook | Twitter
MIAMI (CBSMiami/SportsDirect) – Most NBA Playoff series' tend to go as expected.
The third-seeded Miami Heat versus the sixth-seeded Charlotte Hornets was supposed to be one of the tighter matchups of the first round of the NBA playoffs.
The Heat breezed to a 32-point victory in Game 1 and will try to open up a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven set with another easy win when they host the Hornets in Game 2 on Wednesday.
Miami's clear advantage entering the series was experience, and Dwyane Wade, Luol Deng and Joe Johnson all have plenty of experience in the postseason, even if none of it came together.
Deng looked comfortable with a season-high 31 points on 11-of-13 shooting in Game 1 to lead a 57.6 percent shooting effort from the Heat.
"Whether you lose by 30 or one, it's one-nothing," Hornets coach Steve Clifford told reporters. "We lost one game. And up front, we just got manhandled. If Deng and (center Hassan) Whiteside are going to combine for those kinds of numbers, it's going to be hard for us to win."
Charlotte was outrebounded 49-37 and outscored in the paint 56-36 but does not plan to move center Al Jefferson into the starting lineup.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, NBATV, FSN Southeast (Charlotte), FSN Sun (Miami)
ABOUT THE HORNETS: Kemba Walker was one of three players to score in double figures with 19 points on 6-of-13 shooting in the first game but lamented the team's execution.
"We made a lot of mistakes," Walker told reporters. "Coach gave us an awesome game plan and we just completely went against it. We didn't do what he told us to do. That's not really us. We're usually the team that plays mistake-free. (Sunday), that wasn't the case. They played extremely well as well, but we definitely made a lot of mistakes."
Starting guards Walker, Courtney Lee and Nicolas Batum each managed only one assist in the loss.
ABOUT THE HEAT: Whiteside was playing in his first postseason game and had no trouble getting the better of Charlotte's frontcourt with 21 points on 9-of-11 shooting, 11 rebounds and three blocks in 26 minutes.
"We just knew it was time to play Miami Heat basketball," Whiteside told reporters. "We're in the playoffs. It's all or nothing. Just leave it all out there. We came out and played our hearts out as a team. We're just going to try to keep it rolling."
Whiteside finished third in the NBA Defensive Player of the Year voting revealed on Monday.
BUZZER BEATERS
- The Heat's 123 points in Game 1 was a franchise playoff record.
- Charlotte rookie C Frank Kaminsky did not attempt a field goal in 18 minutes on Sunday.
- Miami G Goran Dragic was the only starter not to score in double figures with nine points on Sunday but handed out 10 assists.
(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Sports Direct Inc. contributed to this report.)
