Heat 104, Hornets 94
MIAMI -- The Miami Heat, with power forward Chris Bosh back in their lineup for the first since just before the 2015 All-Star Game, defeated the Charlotte Hornets 104-94 on Wednesday night at AmericanAirlines Arena. It was the season opener for both teams.
Bosh, who was hospitalized last year due to blood clots in his lungs, had a game-high 21 points and a team-high 10 rebounds in his return.
He helped the Heat win its 12th straight home game in its series against Charlotte.
Heat guard Dwyane Wade had 20 points, five assists and just one turnover. Miami also got 19 points off the bench from wing Gerald Green.
The Hornets, who had the best preseason record in the NBA this year at 7-1, won the first quarter on Wednesday but could not sustain that success.
Guard Kemba Walker led the Hornets with 19 points. Center Al Jefferson added 17 points, but he had just four points after the first quarter.
Just before the game tipped off, Bosh addressed the crowd.
"It's been a while, huh?" Bosh said. "I want to thank each and every one of you for your prayers, for the well wishes that you gave me to help me get back here tonight. Thank you for your support."
Miami got off to a good start. Bosh scored on a layup, capping the first possession of the game, and the Heat built an 8-2 lead on the strength of three buckets at the rim.
But then Jefferson took over, scoring 13 points as the Hornets rallied for a 27-23 lead after the end of the first quarter. His counterpart, Heat center Hassan Whiteside, had no points, no rebounds and two turnovers in the first.
Whiteside finished the game with four points, six rebounds and two blocks.
Miami controlled the second quarter (31-17) and went into the break leading 54-44. Heat rookie wing Justise Winslow capped a 15-2 run with his first NBA 3-pointer and his first dunk, both on successive possessions. Green then added a dunk and two 3-pointers to close the half.
The Heat extended its lead to 73-60 through three quarters. Charlotte never seriously threatened in the final period, although the Hornets did close to within five points with 56 seconds left.
Miami responded with great ball movement and a three-pointer by small forward Luol Deng with 39 seconds left. That sealed the deal.
NOTES: Heat F Amar'e Stoudemire (knee) sat out. ... Heat SF Luol Deng started despite a hip issue. ... Heat rookie G Josh Richardson was inactive. ... Hornets Gs Jeremy Lamb (ankle) and Troy Daniels (hamstring) sat out. ... The Wednesday game was the official Hornets debut of shooting coach Bruce Kreutzer, 64, who has 38 years of coaching experience. The Hornets were last in the NBA in 3-point shooting and next-to-last in field goal percentage in 2014-15. ... The Hornets' loss of SF Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (shoulder) for six months is huge. Charlotte went 27-28 with him last year and 7-21 without him. ... SF P.J. Hairston, who averaged 15 minutes and 5.6 points last season, started in place of Kidd-Gilchrist. ... The Hornets gave Marvin Williams the nod over Cody Zeller as the starting power forward.