Heat’s turn to adjust to Hornets’ power (forward) play after Game 3 loss

11:09 PM ET

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Mismatches created at the power forward position have dictated every game of the Miami Heat’s first-round playoff series against the Charlotte Hornets.

It’s the Heat’s turn to make the next adjustment.

After Luol Deng’s quickness, perimeter shooting and slashing ability helped Miami forge a 2-0 series lead, the Hornets countered in Saturday’s 96-80 victory with the only option they had available to battle their way back into the series: their size.

A gamble by Heat coach Erik Spoelstra in the third quarter to protect point guard Goran Dragic from slipping further into foul trouble led to a chain defensive reaction that exposed Miami during what proved to be the pivotal stretch of the game. Deng was taken off his defensive assignment against Hornets power forward Frank Kaminsky and was instead matched up with point guard Kemba Walker.

That switch ultimately left 6-foot-4 Heat guard Dwyane Wade matched up with the 7-foot Kaminsky, who scored 13 of his 15 points in the third quarter as the Hornets used an 18-0 run to pull away. Wade’s 154 career blocks in the playoffs are second-most in NBA history among guards, behind only Michael Jordan. But he struggled with Kaminsky’s length during the critical moments in Saturday’s game.

“Coach wanted to buy some time and put Luol on Kemba, and that shifted everything around,” Wade said. “I’ve guarded [power forwards] a lot. And [Kaminsky] made some plays. We just have to be more aware of him next time. That’s the one thing I’m not concerned with. This team has always made adjustments from what we’ve done wrong the next time we stepped on the floor.”

The Heat have Sunday’s practice to tinker before Game 4 this Monday. Even after Miami opened the series with franchise record-setting offensive outbursts at home in the first two games, Wade cautioned that things tend to shift drastically when a team hits the road in the playoffs. He said that would especially …

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