The Miami Heat opened the 2015-16 season with a 104-94 win over the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday at AmericanAirlines Arena.
The Hornets held a four-point advantage when the game entered the second quarter, and that is where things went a different way. Miami outscored Charlotte by 14 points in the second quarter of play. Due to that big quarter, the Heat were able to hold off a rally by the Hornets in the fourth quarter.
When Miami and Charlotte began the fourth quarter, the Heat were ahead by 13 points. It appeared that Miami would open the year with a relatively easy win. That was not the case however as the Hornets cut the deficit to only five late in the final minute of play. A three-point basket by Luol Deng with 38 seconds would seal the win for Miami.
In his first regular season game since before the All-Star break of last season, Chris Bosh was very productive. Following a solid preseason, Bosh looked like his old self with 21 points and ten rebounds in 32 minutes. Bosh also did well at the free-throw line making 7 of 8 attempts to help the Heat get the victory.
Dwyane Wade had a big game in the points department as well with 20 of his own. Wade also added five assists and a block in an energetic 29 minutes of play. Like Bosh, the All-Star was strong from the charity stripe as he made all six of his tries.
Gerald Green stole the show for Miami off the bench with 30 big minutes. Green contributed 19 points and was 5 of 8 from three-point territory. Green had the most minutes of any bench player and nearly led the team overall in court time.
The Heat will head to Cleveland on Friday night for a meeting with LeBron James and the Cavaliers at 7 p.m.
