Charlotte Hornets Gameday: At Miami Heat
5:30 p.m., AmericanAirlines Arena, Miami
TV: TNT Radio: WFNZ-AM 610.
Projected Starters
Hornets | Heat | |||||
Pos, Player | Ppg | Rpg | Pos, Player | Ppg | Rpg | |
G K. Walker | 20.9 | 4.4 | G G. Dragic | 14.1 | 3.8 | |
G C. Lee | 9.6 | 2.6 | G D. Wade | 19.0 | 4.1 | |
F N. Batum | 14.9 | 6.1 | G J. Johnson | 12.2 | 3.6 | |
F M. Williams | 11.7 | 6.4 | F L. Deng | 12.3 | 6.0 | |
C C. Zeller | 8.7 | 6.2 | C H. Whiteside | 14.2 | 11.8 | |
Matchup to Watch
Kemba Walker vs. Goran Dragic: Walker has held Dragic to 10.3 points per game in their head-to-head matchups. Walker will have his hands on the ball in the fourth quarter, and the Hornets need to exploit this matchup big-time.
Observations
▪ Dwyane Wade’s 152 career playoff starts are more than the Hornets have combined (123).
▪ Nic Batum is giving up 40 pounds to 240-pound Joe Johnson of the Heat.
Tap-ins
▪ Since moving to power forward after the All-Star break, the Heat’s Luol Deng is averaging 15.1 points and 8.1 rebounds.
▪ Whether he comes off the bench or starts, Al Jefferson could be key. He has averaged 19 points, 7.5 rebounds and has shot 60 percent in two games against the Heat this season.
Did you know?
Hassan Whiteside’s rebounding average against the Hornets was his worst against any opponent this season.
Barry Talley
This story was originally published April 16, 2016 at 7:32 PM with the headline "Charlotte Hornets Gameday: At Miami Heat."