Ball leads Charlotte against Miami after 44-point game

Miami Heat (7-8, sixth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Charlotte Hornets (6-11, 12th in the Eastern Conference)

Charlotte, North Carolina; Wednesday, 7 p.m. EST

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Heat -3.5; over/under is 217.5

BOTTOM LINE: Charlotte hosts the Miami Heat after LaMelo Ball scored 44 points in the Charlotte Hornets’ 95-84 loss to the Orlando Magic.

The Hornets are 5-10 in conference games. Charlotte is third in the NBA averaging 16.1 made 3-pointers per game while shooting 36.6% from downtown. Ball leads the team averaging 4.5 makes while shooting 35.6% from 3-point range.

The Heat have gone 5-5 against Eastern Conference opponents. Miami ranks eighth in the league allowing just 110.3 points while holding opponents to 46.3% shooting.

The Hornets average 109.1 points per game, 1.2 fewer points than the 110.3 the Heat give up. The Heat’s 44.3% shooting percentage from the field this season is 2.5 percentage points lower than the Hornets have given up to their opponents (46.8%).

TOP PERFORMERS: Ball is averaging 31 points, 5.1 rebounds and 6.9 assists for the Hornets.

Bam Adebayo is scoring 16.5 points per game and averaging 9.3 rebounds for the Heat.

LAST 10 GAMES: Hornets: 4-6, averaging 107.5 points, 48.1 rebounds, 23.2 assists, 7.7 steals and 5.2 blocks per game while shooting 42.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.0 points per game.

Heat: 4-6, averaging 112.6 points, 42.0 rebounds, 25.4 assists, 10.2 steals and 3.4 blocks per game while shooting 44.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.1 points.

INJURIES: Hornets: Grant Williams: out for season (knee), Nick Richards: out (ribs), Miles Bridges: out (knee), Mark Williams: out (foot), Tre Mann: out (back), DaQuan Jeffries: out (hand).

Heat: Dru Smith: day to day (knee).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.