The Charlotte Hornets visit the Miami Heat on Monday night at Kaseya Center. Charlotte enters the game at 15-48, sitting 14th in the Eastern Conference. Miami is 29-34 and currently holds the ninth spot in the East. The Heat have won six straight meetings against the Hornets, including a 98-94 victory on November 27.
The Hornets recently ended a nine-game losing streak with a 105-102 win over the Brooklyn Nets. Meanwhile, Miami has lost three straight, including a 114-109 loss to the Chicago Bulls on Saturday night. Both teams look to improve as they head into the final stretch of the season.
Hornets Preview – Short-Handed Charlotte Faces Tough Task
Injuries have been a major issue for the Hornets. Key players LaMelo Ball, Jusuf Nurkic, and Mark Williams are all listed as day-to-day. Meanwhile, Brandon Miller, Grant Williams, and Tre Mann are out for the season. This leaves Charlotte’s roster thin, especially in the frontcourt.
Despite their struggles, Miles Bridges has been a consistent force for Charlotte. He leads the team with 20.9 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game. Bridges had 26 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists in Charlotte’s win over Brooklyn. With limited scoring options available, Bridges will need to carry the offense once again.
Josh Green has also been a steady contributor, appearing in 57 games this season and starting 56 of them. While his scoring is limited (7.4 points per game), he provides defensive versatility and energy. Nick Smith Jr. has emerged as another scoring option, averaging 15 points over the last five games. Charlotte’s offense is inconsistent, ranking 28th in the league at just 105.3 points per game.
Defensively, Charlotte allows 116.3 points per game and struggles to defend the perimeter. The Hornets rank near the bottom of the league in opponent 3-point percentage, giving up 35.7% from beyond the arc. Without key rim protectors like Nurkic and Mark Williams, Charlotte’s interior defense is also vulnerable.
Heat Preview – Miami Aims to Snap Losing Streak
The Heat have struggled recently, losing three straight games by five points or fewer. Miami’s defensive strength remains key, allowing 110.5 points per game, one of the better marks in the league. However, poor fourth-quarter performances have cost them wins in recent games.
Bam Adebayo has been Miami’s anchor inside, averaging 22 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game. Tyler Herro continues to provide scoring as well, averaging 21 points and serving as Miami’s top perimeter threat. In their loss to Chicago, Herro posted 21 points and eight rebounds.
Andrew Wiggins’ return from injury is key for Miami. Wiggins scored 22 points in 28 minutes in his first game back, and his presence should add defensive versatility and scoring punch. Kel’el Ware also returned against Chicago, pulling down 12 rebounds to go with seven points, two blocks, and two steals. Coach Erik Spoelstra admitted he may have overextended both players’ minutes in their first game back.
Miami has shown they can get early leads, but closing out games has been a struggle. In their last three losses, the Heat have been outscored in the fourth quarter by a combined 35 points. Improving their late-game execution will be key against Charlotte.
Key Matchup – Miles Bridges vs Bam Adebayo
Bridges and Adebayo are the leaders for their respective teams and will play a major role in deciding the outcome. Bridges is Charlotte’s primary scoring threat and will likely need a big night for the Hornets to stay competitive. Adebayo, meanwhile, controls the paint for Miami and will look to take advantage of Charlotte’s injury-depleted frontcourt.
Bridges’ ability to stretch the floor may force Adebayo to step away from the rim, potentially opening lanes for Charlotte’s guards. Conversely, Adebayo’s physical play inside could wear down Charlotte’s thin front line.
Betting Prediction
Miami is favored by 9.5 points, and they should be able to control this matchup. Charlotte’s injuries and defensive struggles will make it difficult for them to keep pace with Miami’s scoring depth. The Heat’s ability to limit Charlotte’s limited offensive weapons should be enough to secure a comfortable win.
With Charlotte struggling to score and Miami’s recent tendency for low-scoring games, the under (215.5) is also worth considering. Miami’s improved defense with Wiggins and Ware back in the lineup should help keep Charlotte’s point total low.
Pick: Heat -9.5 / Under 215.5
