The Miami Heat fought back from the brink of elimination to advance in the NBA playoffs with a 106-73 blowout over the Charlotte Hornets in Game 7 on Sunday.
The series-deciding game was never particularly close, but the Heat really separated themselves in the third quarter, outscoring the Hornets 29-11 to open a 30-point lead ahead of the fourth. By then, it was pretty much over.
Miami held serve through the first two games of the series, winning Games 1 and 2 at home, but Charlotte took the next three, including Game 5 in Miami. The Hornets had a chance to close it out at home in Game 6, and Kemba Walker did all he could to make that happen, dropping 37 points in an electrifying performance.