After enduring a stunning 10-game losing streak, the Miami Heat finally returned to winning ways with a 122-105 victory over the Charlotte Hornets this Sunday (23rd). The Heat had been in a tough slump ever since the trade that sent Jimmy Butler to the Golden State Warriors. However, the key player brought in as part of the deal stepped up in a big way.
Andrew Wiggins delivered an incredible performance, leading the Heat to victory with 42 points, marking the second-highest scoring game of his career. Wiggins was remarkably efficient, hitting 16 of 21 field goals — including 6 of 8 from beyond the arc — making it the best shooting performance for Miami this season. His previous career-high of 47 points came in 2016 while he was with the Minnesota Timberwolves. This was also the highest individual point tally by any Miami player this season, surpassing Tyler Herro’s three 40-point games.
Herro was also crucial in the win, contributing 29 points and playing a solid 40 minutes on the court. However, no other Heat player scored more than 12 points in this game. On the other side, LaMelo Ball led the Hornets with a strong performance, scoring 18 points and dishing out 11 assists.
It’s worth noting that Wiggins had missed two games due to injury, but made a return in Friday’s (21st) loss to the Houston Rockets. Despite the defeat, he still managed an impressive 30-point performance in his comeback game, which showed his readiness to lead Miami. His standout game against the Hornets helped break the Heat’s six-game losing streak — their longest since the team’s early years in the NBA.
