NBA Playoffs: Heat vs. Hornets Game 4 recap, full highlights

The Hornets held on to tie their first round series in the NBA Playoffs against the Heat at 2-2

The Charlotte Hornets couldn’t do anything to stop the Miami Heat in the first two games of their Eastern Conference first round series in the 2016 NBA Playoffs. The heat simply couldn’t miss in either of the first two games played down in Miami and subsequently jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the series with that advantage. However, they cooled down as the series shifted to Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte and the Hornets got their first win in the NBA Playoffs in over a decade. That paved the way for them to tie the series on Monday night again in Charlotte for Game 4.

Charlotte jumped out to an early lead over the Heat and, for much of the first half, used a strong defensive effort to retain control of the matchup. Whether it was Frank Kaminsky and Cody Zeller handling Hassan Whiteside or the likes of Courtney Lee and Marvin Williams locking down Dwyane Wade and Luol Deng, the Hornets only allowed 39 first half points for Miami and took a strong lead into halftime.

As it was for the Hornets at home for much of the first half, the second half was when the Kemba Walker show continued as well. Kemba and Jeremy Lin carried Charlotte in a major way on Monday night, both players stepping up their games for the NBA Playoffs and maintaining the lead, despite the Heat throwing haymakers and some of their best punches.

In the end, the Heat didn’t have enough firepower to fight through the Hornets defense and Walker was just too good on the night. The home team Hornets were subsequently able to hold on for the victory down the stretch, tying the series up at two games apiece as they’ll now head back to Miami.

Three Stars

Kemba Walker, Hornets – 34 points, four rebounds, three steals, two blocks, one assist

Dwyane Wade, Heat – 12 points, 10 assists, seven rebounds, two blocks

Jeremy Lin, Hornets – 21 points, three assists, two steals

Highlights

"Justise Winslow finishing strong at the rim on NBA TV."

Next Game

Game 5 between the Heat and Hornets in the 2016 NBA Playoffs will take place on Wednesday night back in Miami at 8 p.m. ET.

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