Hornets take 3-2 Lead, Heat Collapsing?
For the Miami Heat, the heat very may well be getting turned up. For the first time this series, the Heat trail. The Hornets built on their momentum to launch themselves to a 3-2 series lead. This went from a series thought of as a possible sweep for the Heat, who took an early dominant 2-0 lead to a series, that many bet the Hornets will win, as they’ve won three straight games to take this series lead.
Marvin Williams led the Hornets in scoring with 17 points, while Kemba Walker and Al Jefferson added 14 each. This was the first road playoff win for the Hornets in 14 years. This win has its fair share of controversy. The Heat believe Dwyane Wade was fouled with 2.6 seconds left, and that they fouled Cody Zeller in an effort to send him to the free throw line.
Wade led the Heat and all scorers with 25 points, Luol Deng scored 15, Joe Johnsom added 13, and Hassan Whiteside ended up with 11 points and 12 rebounds. The Heat, despite the loss, had notable contributions. The Hornets had a fair share of contributions as well. The Heat will hope to have these contributions and more in game six.
The Heat began the game on a 14-6 run, before the Hornets answered back with a 14-0 run. The run by the Hornets featured four three-pointers by four different players. The Hornets finished the first quarter with 5 3-pointers made and a 28-25 lead. They held a 12 point edge when the margin reached 40-28 in about the middle of the second.
Enter Dwyane Wade. He scored 10 of the 14 points he scored in the first half in the final 5:49 before halftime. He sparked a 17-7 Miami run to get to 49-47. Dwyane Wade had a full arsenal. He just couldn’t miss.
Charlotte shot just 26 percent in the third. Miami, becoming the first team to engineer a second-half lead change in the series, got the lead out to 71-65 going into the fourth. Josh Richardson made a pair of threes for Miami late in the third, one of them going from a 2 to a 3 following a review at the end of the quarter. Miami showed an ability to come from behind.
Flash forward to the end of the game, Miami leads 88-87 and Courtney Lee has a chance to take the lead on a layup. He misses the layup in question, and it’s obvious that he is furious about it, this could cost them the game. Miami came up empty, and Lee hit a three to give the Hornets the lead 90-88 and eventually the win at the same score. Courtney Lee’s anger didn’t last long at all, but Miami’s surely will.
Are the Heat collapsing, or can they pull out the wins they need?
