MIAMI – Luol Deng scored 31 points on 11-for-13 shooting, Hassan Whiteside added 21 points and 11 rebounds in his postseason debut, and the Miami Heat wasted no time taking control of what became a 123-91 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday (Monday Manila time) in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first-round series.
Dwyane Wade scored 16 points in 26 minutes for the Heat. Joe Johnson and Amare Stoudemire each scored 11 points and Goran Dragic had 10 assists for Miami.
Miami scored 41 points in the first quarter to tie one franchise playoff record, set another with the 123 points – topping the 121 in the 2012 NBA Finals clincher against Oklahoma City – and never trailed.
Nic Batum scored 24 points for the Hornets. Kemba Walker added 19.
Game 2 is Wednesday night in Miami.
Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) dunks over Charlotte Hornets guard Courtney Lee (1) and center Al Jefferson (25). AP