Hornets 96, Heat 89
Hornets 96, Heat 89: Al Jefferson scored 28 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to help Charlotte snap a 16-game losing skid against visiting Miami.
Kemba Walker added 18 points and seven assists for the Hornets, who beat the Heat for the first time since March 9, 2010. Cody Zeller scored 13 points off the bench while Lance Stephenson secured 13 rebounds for Charlotte, which won the battle of the boards 49-36.
Dwyane Wade led the way with 25 points and seven assists for Miami, who shot only 39 percent from the field. Chris Bosh tallied 23 points and 13 rebounds for the Heat, who lost their second game in as many nights.
P.J. Hairston hit a 3-pointer to spark a 7-0 spurt early in the fourth quarter to put Charlotte up 79-64 before Shabazz Napier's driving layup cut the deficit to three with 2:16 left in the game. Walker nailed a clutch triple to put the Hornets on top 91-85 and he made four free throws in the final 30 seconds to seal the win.
Miami missed 12 of its first 17 shots and Jefferson led all scorers with 12 first-half points as Charlotte took a 46-44 lead into the break. Jefferson added another 12 points in the first seven-plus minutes of the third quarter and Jason Maxiell nailed a jumper to stretch the Hornets' advantage to 72-62 heading into the final frame.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The Hornets went 5-of-18 from 3-point range while the Heat finished 4-of-22. … Stephenson was charged with a flagrant 1 foul with 8:24 left in the fourth quarter after tangling up with G Mario Chalmers. … Miami PG Norris Cole scored just two points on 1-of-6 shooting from the field.