The Charlotte Hornets defeated the visiting Miami Heat, 96 - 80, in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference first - round playoffs Saturday at Time Warner Cable Arena. Miami leads the series, 2 - 1. Charlotte took its home court by storm, leading throughout the first half and quickly pulling away to start the second. Point guard Kemba Walker, this year's runner - up in Most Improved Player voting, played a crucial role in the team's first playoff victory. Walker had 17 points and was a major distributor, dishing out seven dimes. Forward Marvin Williams also came up big, delivering a 12 - point, 14 - rebound double - double. Jeremy Lin came off the bench for a team - high 18. Six players scored in double - digits for the Hornets, as the team clearly came out with a must - win mindset as they took the court in Charlotte. The team protected the ball at a ridiculously high level, turning it over just three times in total on the night. Miami, meanwhile, struggled mightily on the offensive end. The team shot just 34 percent from the field and turned it over 14 times, a stark contrast from the high - powered offense they displayed in Games 1 and 2. Center Hassan Whiteside delivered a massive 18 rebounds and four blocked shots. Whiteside was the second runner - up in Defensive Player of the Year voting this season, finishing behind Kawhi Leonard and Draymond Green. Forward Luol Deng also impressed, scoring 19 points. Ultimately, neither performance was enough, as Miami simply looked stagnant on Saturday. Game 4 will be held in Charlotte on Monday.
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