Tyler Herro nets 27 points, helping the Heat fend off a late surge from the Hornets.

Tyler Herro contributed 27 points, while Duncan Robinson added 22 points, including six three-pointers, as the Miami Heat secured a narrow victory over the Charlotte Hornets, finishing 98-94 on Wednesday night. Bam Adebayo recorded a double-double with 10 rebounds and 10 assists, helping the Heat recover from a previous 106-103 defeat to the Milwaukee Bucks in an NBA Cup matchup on Tuesday. LaMelo Ball led the Hornets with 32 points and 10 rebounds, but the team has now lost five of their last six games. Brandon Miller scored 21 points, and rookie Tidjane Salaun achieved a career-high of 17 points. The Hornets made a comeback from a 20-point deficit to briefly take the lead after Salaun hit a corner three-pointer with 42 seconds remaining. However, Herro quickly responded with a three-pointer of his own and then secured a steal. Following a foul, Herro converted 1 of 2 free throws, leaving the Hornets with an opportunity to either tie or win the game with six seconds left. Cody Martin was fouled but failed to convert both free throw attempts. Kel’el Ware of Miami then made two free throws to clinch the victory. Jimmy Butler exited the game in the third quarter due to back tightness and did not return for the fourth quarter.

Key takeaways for the Heat include Robinson's strong start, as he scored 13 of the team's first 17 points, including three three-pointers. For the Hornets, Ball, who had been averaging 43 points over the last three games, was listed as probable due to a right wrist injury, which appeared to affect his performance as he was seen favoring the wrist during stoppages.

A pivotal moment occurred when the Hornets aimed to regain the lead with under 10 seconds remaining, but Herro intercepted Ball's pass intended for Miller. Notably, Ball struggled with his shooting, finishing 11 of 35 from the field and 7 of 20 from beyond the arc, along with seven turnovers.

Looking ahead, the Heat will host the Raptors on Friday, while the Hornets will face the Knicks at home.