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However, the Heat, after a 40-point
first-quarter explosion, scored just 58 in the final three
periods.
Graham made 11 of 19 shots from the floor, including 8 of 11 on
3-pointers. He scored all 30 points after the first quarter.
His performance was especially big because he was missing his
backcourt partner. Terry Rozier, coming off a career-high 40
points in Charlotte's 143-138 double-overtime loss to the
Atlanta Hawks on Monday, sat out the Miami game due to an
illness.
Guard Tyler Herro, Miami's rookie first-round pick, returned
from an ankle injury and scored two points in seven minutes in
his first game since Feb. 3.
Heat forward Jae Crowder, who missed one game while in the
concussion protocol, returned and scored eight points and
grabbed 10 rebounds.
However, Miami was without five-time All-Star Jimmy Butler, who
missed his first game since sustaining a toe injury. The Heat
are 5-6 without him this season.
Miami, making 14 of its first 15 shots, put together a 21-4 run
and finished the first quarter on top 40-22. The Heat shot 84.2
percent from the floor in the quarter, including 8 of 9 on
3-pointers.
Charlotte stormed back, however, with a 20-1 second-quarter run.
Miami, after its best-shooting period of the season in the
first, missed its first 10 second-quarter shots.
The Hornets took their first lead of the game, 49-47, with 2:46
left in the half on the strength of two straight Graham
three-pointers.
Charlotte went into halftime with a stunning 59-51 lead.
Charlotte outscored Miami 37-11 in the second quarter and never
trailed again. The Hornets stretched their lead to 87-77 after
three quarters and cruised from there.
--Field Level Media
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