Heat vs. Hornets: Game 3 Score and Twitter Reaction from 2016 NBA Playoffs

The Charlotte Hornets are winners in the playoffs for the first time in 14 years after their 96-80 Game 3 triumph over the Miami Heat in Charlotte on Saturday to cut Miami’s series lead to 2-1.

You’d have to go back to May 9, 2002, to find the last time the Hornets won a playoff game. Baron Davis and David Wesley combined for 48 points on that day to help Charlotte secure a 115-97 win over the New Jersey Nets.

This year’s Hornets got more than a two-person contribution, led by Jeremy Lin’s team-high 18 points. He was one of six players to score in double figures for Charlotte. Kemba Walker also chipped in with 17 points.

The Hornets sent out a celebratory tweet after the win:

18pts from @JLin7 leads 6 Hornets in double figures in 96-80 Game 3 win over @MiamiHEAT #EnterTheSwarm @NBA

— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) April 24, 2016

After scoring 115-plus points in each of the first two games in Miami, the Heat shot only 34.2 percent from the field Saturday. Luol Deng had a game-high 19 points after a 12-point first quarter, and Dwyane Wade had 17 points on 20 shots.

The Hornets were without starting small forward Nicolas Batum, who suffered a left foot strain. Marvin Williams got the start for Charlotte, but that wasn’t the only change head coach Steve Clifford made to his lineup.

Rookie Frank Kaminsky, who started only three games in the regular season, got the start at center, and big man Al Jefferson also entered the starting lineup for only the second time since Nov. 29.

The backcourt remained the same, with Walker and Courtney Lee. This lineup, however, hardly saw any time together during the regular season, per Manny Navarro of the Miami Herald:

#Hornets starting lineup totals before tonight’s game: 1 game, 3 minutes, 3-7 FG, 2-4 3PTs, 2 rebounds, 1 assists, 1 turnover, 8 points, +6

— Manny Navarro (@Manny_Navarro) April 23, 2016

Clifford’s lineup change allowed the Hornets to stretch the floor, with Kaminsky stepping away from the rim on offense. Charlotte improved on the boards in Game 2, but Game 1’s 42-28 rebounding deficit was still a concern for the Hornets.

It worked in the first quarter, with Charlotte gaining an …

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