Miami Heat: Dwyane Wade turns back the clock and more

The Miami Heat just couldn’t hold on against the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday evening, falling short 113-112.

If all of the Miami Heat’s games will be so close to the wire this season, fans better brace themselves.

Last night, South Florida finally got its 2018-19 home opener, via a matchup against the Charlotte Hornets. And although there was certainly much left to be desired for a while there, in the form of sloppy turnovers, bad fouls and poor shot selection, things picked up in the middle of the third quarter; ultimately giving Heat Nation quite a show.

Unfortunately, by the time the Heat found their groove, it was too little, too late.

Playing catchup is never a great strategy, but becomes an even worse one when its against a competitor as talented as Kemba Walker (especially on a good night). The guard finished with 39 points in 40 minutes, shooting 14-of-31 from the field, and going 7-for-15 from downtown. He also recorded five rebounds and seven assists.

Of course, it was the star who sealed Miami’s fate too.

The game was all tied up at 112-112 with 12 seconds left, after Dwyane Wade rebounded and put back his own missed 3. The Hornets put the the ball in Walker’s hands, who drove to the hole, and forced Rodney McGruder to draw contact (or so the officials claimed). He made his first free throw, and missed the second on purpose, running out the clock and giving Miami no chance to retaliate.

Still, the Heat should be applauded for the way they overcame a 26-point deficit.

Father Prime

Wade definitely had his (one last pair of) dancing shoes on yesterday.

The veteran finished with 21 points in 24 minutes, shooting 9-of-15 from the floor and 2-for-6 from 3-point land, alongside three rebounds, there assists and two blocks.

And that was all on top of keeping the energy at an all-time high, inside the AmericanAirlines Arena; every time the guard touched the ball, the crowd would go wild, urging him to take even the craziest of shots. This came after both he and Udonis Haslem addressed the fans prior to tip-off, thanking them for their unwavering support over the years.

At 36, Wade may not be able to carry an entire team on his back anymore, but last night proved that he still has enough gas left in his tank to put on an epic Father Prime performance.

A Dragon, awakened

Goran Dragic was nearly unrecognizable in the first half of play against the Hornets.

He looked sluggish, his shots were completely off, and frustration was seemingly getting the best of him.

But then, the Dragon was awakened.

And suddenly, it was his game. He was calling (and making) the shots.

It was less about the guard totaling 20 points in 38 minutes (as well as seven assists and four rebounds) on the night, and more so the way he took control of Miami’s rhythm in the third quarter. He first and foremost set the offensive pace, but also stayed aggressive on defense, bringing the Heat back to life.

Who to choose…

Both Bam Adebayo and Hassan Whiteside had solid showings last evening.

While Adebayo finished with 12 points and six rebounds in 15 minutes, Whiteside recorded 11 and 15 in 24.

So it’s obvious that Miami can count on both to hold it down on both ends of the court.

The question becomes, who should be used as a closer?

On the one hand, Whiteside definitely has more experience. He’s also not afraid to take a risk and go hard at the opposition. But unfortunately, he can be a liability at the line.

Although overall, he went 5-for-8 from the charity stripe, he did miss two crucial free throws that could have changed things for the Heat when it came down to being all tied up during those 12 remaining seconds.

As for Adebayo? He was 6-of-6, raising the idea that perhaps he would be better suited in late, close-game situations.

The Miami Heat will take on the New York Knicks on Wednesday, October 24, at 7:30 PM ET.