Giannis Antetokounmpo's nightmare with the Miami Heat continues

The start of Giannis Antetokounmpo with the Miami Heat continues to lack the expected direction. The Florida franchise suffered another defeat, this time by 115-110 against the Charlotte Hornets, leaving them with a 0-3 record at the beginning of the NBA season. The two-time MVP could only contribute 14 points before being fouled out with less than two minutes left, in yet another game that ended in a disappointing result for his new team.

The loss represents another setback for Miami, which has yet to secure its first win with Antetokounmpo on the roster. The Greek player, one of the biggest stars in the league, could not lead a final comeback for the Heat and had to watch from the sidelines as Charlotte defended its lead in the closing moments.

Giannis fouled out at a crucial moment

Antetokounmpo finished the game with 14 points, a modest figure for a player of his caliber, and could not stay on the court until the end. Foul trouble forced him to leave the game with just under two minutes remaining, right during a time when Miami needed to complete its comeback.

The Heat had found themselves down by a significant margin, but they managed to reopen the game thanks to a collective response that allowed them to erase much of the deficit. However, Erik Spoelstra's team could not finish the effort and was left without a reward once again.

Davion Mitchell was Miami's leading scorer with 22 points, followed by Bam Adebayo, who finished with 20. Pelle Larsson contributed 15 and Klay Thompson added another 14. The offensive production from these players kept the visitors in the game until the final stretch, though it was not enough to avoid a third consecutive defeat.

The problem for the Heat was not only Giannis' individual performance. The team again showed difficulties in sustaining its level throughout the game and had to rely on a last-minute rally to try to compensate for the minutes during which Charlotte clearly dominated.

Charlotte punishes Miami with a strong third quarter

The Hornets came into the game after suffering one of the toughest losses in their recent history. On Friday, they lost 128-81 to Atlanta in their first home game, with only 11 three-pointers made out of 51 attempts. The response against Miami was radically different.

Despite not having starters Kon Knueppel and Coby White, Charlotte found solutions from the perimeter and finished with 16 three-pointers made out of 43 attempts. Five of those makes came during a 24-7 run in the third quarter that completely changed the dynamics of the game.

The Hornets went from leading 68-63, with ten and a half minutes still to play in that period, to reaching a 92-70 advantage with 2:55 left in the third quarter. The 22-point difference seemed to put the game well within reach for the home team.

Brandon Miller was the key player in Charlotte's response. After a very poor performance against Atlanta, the player bounced back with 34 points, leading his team's offensive efforts. Dennis Schroder added 25, Naz Reid finished with 23, and Grayson Allen added another 20 for a franchise that improved its record to 2-1.

Image

The outside shooting efficiency was crucial for the Hornets to overcome the previous day's loss and take advantage of Miami's defensive issues. The home team found the shooting touch that had eluded them against Atlanta and capitalized on their best moment to build a lead that forced the Heat to react against the clock.

Miami's bench sparks a rally that falls short

With Giannis hampered by fouls, Spoelstra opted for a lineup featuring Davion Mitchell and Bam Adebayo, supported by the bench players Pelle Larsson, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Bobby Portis Jr. This combination allowed Miami to elevate its intensity and sparked a rally that nearly shifted the outcome.

The Heat went on a 29-10 run that allowed them to get back into the game and tie the score at 100, 102, and 104 points. After being down by 22 points, the Florida team regained confidence and managed to put pressure on a rival that seemed to have the victory under control.

Spoelstra praised his players' response and acknowledged that the team needs to sustain that energy for longer periods.

“Our system is our system; we can maintain that level of activity at any point in the game,” the coach explained. “When we don't, it's because we choose not to, and we end up paying the consequences. But that was inspiring; in fact, I just told the team that we need that kind of inspiration right now.”

The response showed that Miami had the resources to compete, even after a very tough stretch. The problem was that this intensity came after Charlotte had built a substantial lead and wasn't enough to complete the comeback.

A three-pointer by Grayson Allen extinguishes the Heat's chances

The game remained tied during the final moments of the rally, but Charlotte found the play it needed to regain definitive control. After the last tie, with 3:46 left, Grayson Allen hit an acrobatic three-pointer from the left wing while being fouled by Hardaway Jr., just as the shot clock was expiring.

Allen also converted the additional free throw, completing a four-point play that put the score at 108-104. It was a decisive blow for Miami, which could not get closer than three points for the rest of the game.

This play allowed the Hornets to halt the momentum of the visitors and prevent the comeback from having an unexpected conclusion. Charlotte held on in the final stretch and secured an important victory after their heavy loss to Atlanta.

For the Heat, however, the result extended a winless start to the season. According to ESPN Research, this is the first time in Erik Spoelstra's 19 years at the helm that Miami begins a campaign with a 0-3 record.

The numbers that explain Miami's poor start

The statistics reveal two sides of the game. Charlotte found in outside shooting a way to dominate the third quarter, while Miami needed a significant rally to get back into a game that seemed lost. The Heat's comeback was close to changing the story, but the team could not maintain the momentum until the end.

The Hornets cross paths with Miami once again

This matchup also had a recent history. The two teams last faced each other when Charlotte defeated Miami 127-126 in overtime during the play-in tournament of the Eastern Conference, a result that ended the Heat's 2025-26 season.

LaMelo Ball scored the decisive basket for the Hornets then, but the player was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves during the offseason. This time, Charlotte prevailed again and dealt Miami another defeat in a season start that continues to offer no positive results.

Antetokounmpo will have to wait to celebrate his first victory with the Heat. His foul-out in the final minutes, combined with his 14 points, was one of the highlights of a night where Miami came up short once more. The team's reaction showed signs of competitive ability, but the 0-3 record reflects a start that is still far from what the franchise needs.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, La pesadilla de Giannis Antetokounmpo con Miami Heat continúa