The 2015-16 NBA season got off to the right foot for the Miami Heat at home as they defeat the Charlotte Hornets 104-94 in front of a 198th straight sell out crowd at American Airlines Arena. Here is the good, bad, and highlight of the night for Miami:
The Good:
The best player on the floor for the Heat tonight was forward Chris Bosh who finished the game with 21 points and ten rebounds. This was the first regular season game for Bosh since he was diagnosed with blood clots in his lungs after last season’s All-Star break. Guard Dwyane Wade was right behind with 20 points and helped control the tempo at the end of the game.
One good surprise for Miami tonight was that their perimeter shooting, a concern in the pre-season, was on point as the team shot 60% from beyond the arc making 12 of 20 shots. guard Gerald Green led the way in that department making five of his eight three-point attempts followed by forward Luol Deng who made all three of his shots.
The Bad:
Early on center Hassan Whiteside seemed to have no answer for his Hornets counterpart Al Jefferson who scored 13 of his 17 points in the first quarter. While Whiteside did adjust later on this showed the time he missed in training camp due to a calf injury is still affecting him.
The Heat also got in foul trouble midway in the fourth quarter which helped Charlotte cut a 20 point Miami lead to five with less than minute left in the game.
Highlight Of The Night:
For the second year in a row a Heat rookie made himself known at the rim. Tonight the honor went to forward Justise Winslow who in the second quarter threw a vicious slam dunk with Jefferson and Hornets forward Cody Zeller trying to defend and let out a loud yell afterwards. Winslow looked to be sending a message to Charlotte, who had the chance to take him right before Miami in the 2015 NBA Draft but instead chose center Frank Kaminsky.
Next up for the Heat is a one game road trip as they face former teammate LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.