Powell Scores 25 as Heat Dominate Hornets in NBA Cup
Norman Powell led the Miami Heat with 25 points on Friday night, guiding his team to a 126–108 victory over the Charlotte Hornets in the NBA Cup. The win came just a day after coach Erik Spoelstra’s house caught fire, adding emotional weight to the game.
Record-Setting Start for Miami
The Heat opened with a historic first quarter, scoring a franchise-best 53 points — the second-highest total in NBA history for a single quarter. They built a 26-point lead with 9:20 left in the second quarter before Charlotte rallied with a 27–2 run to cut the deficit to one.
Charlotte’s Effort Falls Short
- Kon Knueppel, a rookie, recorded his career-high with 30 points for Charlotte.
- Tre Mann added 20 points.
- Miles Bridges contributed 14 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists.
Team Highlights
- Andrew Wiggins scored 22 for Miami.
- Pelle Larsson added 19 points in support.
Unique Statistical Feat
After their explosive start, Miami managed only 19 points in the second quarter. According to NBA records, they became just the second team in the shot-clock era (since 1954) to score at least 50 points in one quarter and then fewer than 20 in the next during a regular-season game.
Memphis last accomplished that unusual split on March 5, 2023, during a loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.
Author’s Summary: Miami’s early scoring surge carried them to victory, marking a resilient performance under unique personal and team circumstances.
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