Heat beat Hornets 126-108 in NBA Cup opener after record first quarter

Heat Beat Hornets 126-108 in NBA Cup Opener After Record First Quarter

Norman Powell scored 25 points as the Miami Heat defeated the Charlotte Hornets 126-108 in the first NBA Cup game of the season on Friday night. The victory carried extra meaning for coach Erik Spoelstra, coming just one day after his home was destroyed by fire.

Miami nearly had a triple-double performance from another key player, who finished with 18 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists. The Heat opened the game with an explosive first quarter, setting a franchise record of 53 points — the second-highest opening-quarter total in NBA history.

By the nine-minute mark of the second quarter, Miami led 64-38. However, the Hornets rallied with a powerful 27-2 run, narrowing the gap to 66-65. That was as close as Charlotte would get, as the Heat maintained control for the rest of the game.

Following their record-setting start, the Heat managed only 19 points in the second quarter. This put them alongside the Memphis Grizzlies (March 5, 2023, vs. the Clippers) as the only teams in the shot-clock era to score at least 50 in one quarter and fewer than 20 in the next during a regular-season game.

The Heat’s 53-point first quarter marked the second-highest scoring opening period in NBA history.

Miami will face the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday night, hosting the second game of a back-to-back. The matchup will be the first officially broadcast on Local 10 News, with tipoff at 8 p.m.

Author’s Summary

Miami opened the NBA Cup with a historic offensive burst and secured an emotional win for coach Spoelstra after his home fire.

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WPLG Local 10 WPLG Local 10 — 2025-11-08

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