The Miami Heat fought back from the brink of elimination to advance in the NBA playoffs with a 106-73 blowout over the Charlotte Hornets in Game 7 on Sunday.
The series-deciding game was never particularly close, but the Heat really separated themselves in the third quarter, outscoring the Hornets 29-11 to open a 30-point lead ahead of the fourth. By then, it was pretty much over.
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Miami held serve through the first two games of the series, winning Games 1 and 2 at home, but Charlotte took the next three, including Game 5 in Miami. The Hornets had a chance to close it out at home in Game 6, and Kemba Walker did all he could to make that happen, dropping 37 points in an electrifying performance. But Dwyane Wade came up big with 10 fourth-quarter points in that contest, including his first two three-pointers since December.
It was Goran Dragic’s turn to shine on Sunday, as the Slovenian guard filled it up to the tune of 17 first-half points and 25 through three quarters.
Miami moves on to play the winner of the Indiana Pacers-Toronto Raptors series. Game 7 of that series is set for Sunday night (8 p.m. ET, TNT). The Heat would go on the road for Game 1 if the No. 2 seed Raptors win but would have home-court advantage against No. 7 Indiana.