The Miami Heat fell to the Charlotte Hornets 96-88 on Thursday in their penultimate preseason game.
With the loss, Miami is now 4-3 in the preseason with one game remaining on its exhibition schedule. This was the first time in the preseason that the Heat failed to win on the road, and they will finish the schedule 2-1 in such contests.
The Heat went with a new-look lineup for the game in an effort to give some more names extra playing time. Miami still has roster decisions to make ahead of Opening Night. Returning to the starting lineup was Hassan Whiteside who missed last game due to the death of his great grandmother.
Whiteside showed some possible rust and maybe some distracted thoughts with his weakest effort of the preseason. In 15 minutes of action, the center only tallied five points and six rebounds. Whiteside was 1-6 on his field goal tries and just did not seem to have it in this one.
One of the aforementioned new starters in the loss was Briante Weber. The guard is trying to win a roster spot and did not do much to help his case. Weber went 1-8 from the field and had two points. With Beno Udrih battling for a roster spot as well, Weber was likely hoping for a better night. Weber did add seven assists in his 40 minutes.
Udrih who entered the preseason with expectations of winning a roster spot saw limited action in this one. The veteran had two points and two assists in his eight minutes.
Miami's preseason will come to a close on Friday with a home game against the Philadelphia 76ers.
