CHARLOTTE, N.C. _ You want works of art? Look higher in the standings.
You want playoff desperation? Look no further than this display between a pair of teams that each entered five games under .500 and tied for the eighth and final playoff berth in the Eastern Conference.
In a game played to the symphony of clanked jumpers and grunts after turnovers, the Miami Heat found a way Wednesday night in a 91-84 victory over the Charlotte Hornets at the Spectrum Center, albeit after nearly blowing all of a late 17-point lead.
Up 13 early and then lost in a rabbit hole of turnovers and passive play, the Heat regained their stride behind the play of their second unit at the start of the fourth quarter.
With Hassan Whiteside stepping up with an 18-point, 15-rebound double-double and Kelly Olynyk keeping the Heat afloat during the shakiest stages in a 22-point, 11-rebound effort, the Heat were able to push back to a double-digit lead midway through the fourth quarter.
Going in, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra forecast intensity, if not artistry.
"I think it's safe to say both franchises know the context of this game," he said. "I mention it to our guys all the time: This is what you want. You want your games to have meaning, and particularly at this time of year, you don't want to play these games where's there no significance."
He added, "There'll be pain to a loss and there'll be great feeling to a win. And it has to be earned. And that's ultimately what pro sports was intended for."
It certainly was painful to watch most of the way, with extensive use of zone defense by both teams grinding the offenses to a near halt.
The Heat went into the fourth quarter up 61-58, the lowest-scoring game in the NBA through three quarters this season.
They then pushed their lead to 17 before the Hornets closed within 88-79, on a Frank Kaminsky 3-pointer with 2:18 to play. Later, with 1:35 to play, a Cody Zeller inside basket drew Charlotte within 88-81. A Kemba Walker 3-pointer then made it 88-84.
Finally, with 20.6 seconds to play, the Heat's Josh Richardson was fouled, making only the second of the two free throws, for an 89-84 lead.
