Hornets Gameday: vs. Miami Heat
7 p.m., Time Warner Cable Arena
TV: Fox Sports Southeast. Radio: WFNZ-AM 610.
Projected Starters
Hornets | Heat | |||||
Pos, Player | PPG | RPG | Pos, Player | PPG | RPG | |
G K. Walker | 17.4 | 4.0 | G G. Dragic | 11.6 | 3.3 | |
G N. Batum | 17.0 | 6.6 | G D. Wade | 19.1 | 3.7 | |
F P. Hairston | 4.1 | 2.1 | F L. Deng | 10.3 | 3.8 | |
F M. Williams | 10.2 | 7.3 | F C. Bosh | 17.4 | 8.8 | |
C C. Zeller | 8.1 | 5.1 | C H. Whiteside | 13.1 | 10.5 | |
Matchup to Watch
Dwyane Wade vs. P.J. Hairston: Wade is having a tremendous early season, posting up defenders and getting to the foul line. Hairston’s defense will be important early to avoid Nic Batum having to cover Wade until the fourth quarter.
Observations
▪ Gastonia’s Hassan Whiteside figures to make a fortune this summer when he hits free agency at a time when the NBA salary cap will spike upward because of new national television contracts.
▪ Former Charlotte Bobcat Josh McRoberts is a reserve for the Heat after missing most of last season with a knee injury.
Tap-ins
▪ The Hornets are 1-3 this season within the Southeast Division. Their victory was at home against the Washington Wizards. Three of their next six games will be within the division.
▪ The Hornets continue to commit the fewest turnovers in the NBA, and by a fairly wide margin. They average 12.4 turnovers this season. The Los Angeles Clippers and Memphis Grizzlies are tied for second at 13.7.
Did you know?
Whiteside has 85 shots blocked so far this season, more than a half-dozen NBA teams.
Rick Bonnell
This story was originally published December 8, 2015 at 5:25 PM with the headline "Hornets Gameday: vs. Miami Heat."