Another step back for Heat as they fall to Hornets, 136-106, in Adebayo's absence

Ira Winderman, South Florida Sun-Sentinel on Mar 17, 2026

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

The seven-game winning streak reset the Miami Heat’s season.

The two-game skid that now has followed has robbed some of that hope.

Playing in the injury absences of Bam Adebayo and Andrew Wiggins, the Heat took a jolt in their playoff chase with Tuesday night’s 136-106 loss to the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center.

With Adebayo ruled out 90 minutes due to calf discomfort and Wiggins missing his sixth consecutive game with a toe issue, not even a startling lineup reunion of Tyler Herro and Norman Powell was enough to prevent a step back in play-in territory for Erik Spoelstra’s team.

A close first half turned into a double-digit lead for Charlotte late in the third period, leaving the Heat in jeopardy of falling in the play-in race rather than rising into the playoff race for one of the six automatic berths in the postseason best-of-seven opening round.

Herro led the Heat with 20 points and Powell added 17, but it wasn’t enough to offset the 30 of Charlotte’s LaMelo Ball.

Five Degrees of Heat from Tuesday night’s game:

— 1. Game flow: The Hornets led 26-24 at the end of the opening period and 59-57 at halftime. There were 18 lead changes in the second quarter.

A 7-0 Hornets start to the second half, had Spoelstra calling time 1:45 into the third period. Then, even with Kon Knueppel, Brandon Miller and Coby White called for their fourth fouls in the third period, Charlotte was able to take a 96-88 lead into the fourth.

From there, the Hornets pushed their lead into the 20s with more than seven minutes to play, with Spoelstra emptying his bench with 3:52 to play and his team down 125-99.

— 2. Another one: With Adebayo and Wiggins out, the Heat moved to their 24th lineup in their 69th game, this one pairing Herro and Powell together in the starting lineup for the first time since Jan. 15.

That move came a game after Powell played in reserve for the lone time as a member of the Heat.

In addition to Powell and Herro, Spoelstra’s opening lineup was rounded out by Kel’el Ware, Pelle Larsson and Davion Mitchell.

The Heat fell to 6-3 in Adebayo’s absence this season.

— 3. Keshad time: With Adebayo out and Nikola Jovic working back from back pain, Keshad Johnson got the call at backup center, with his 6-foot-6, 230-pound build.

It was only the second action for Johnson in 11 games, with the other action coming in last week’s blowout victory over the Wizards.

The lack of big bodies also had Simone Fontecchio back in the mix after being held out of Saturday night’s home loss to the Magic.

Johnson then promptly loaded up with three early 3-pointers, surpassing his previous high for 3-pointers in a game.

Johnson closed with 15 points and five rebounds, with Fontecchio closing with 10 points.

— 4. Stark contrast: It was just one week earlier when Adebayo was lighting up the visiting Washington Wizards for 83 points.

This time, it was an ensemble approach that wasn’t enough.

Ware closed 3 of 10 from the field with eight rebounds as Adebayo replacement in the opening lineup, with none of the Heat starters converting at least half their shots.

— 5. Next the West: Up next is a three-game run against elite Western Conference competition, the Heat’s final games against the West this season.

First up are the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night at Kaseya Center, then the Houston Rockets on the road on Saturday night, followed by a Heat return home Monday against the San Antonio Spurs.

The Heat are 16-11 against the West this season, 10-3 against the West at home.