Charlotte Hornets vs. Miami Heat: A History of the Rivalry

When Do the Charlotte Hornets and Miami Heat Play Next?

Charlotte Hornets tickets and Miami Heat tickets can be found on their respective team pages, along with schedule information.

Are the Charlotte Hornets and the Miami Heat Rivals?

The Charlotte Hornets and Miami Heat were expansion teams that came into the NBA at the same time. They have both been in the Eastern Conference Southeast Division as of 2004, and Hornets vs. Heat games have meant more since then. One of the franchises has enjoyed much more success than the other, which is why the Hornets-Heat rivalry is not a very spirited one. But Charlotte does have one playoff series win in three tries against Miami.

Who are the Charlotte Hornets’ Biggest Rivals?

Due to the lack of overall success by the franchise, the Hornets have yet to find one team it can consider a true rival. The Hornets have had brief periods of success, making the postseason 10 times in 36 seasons so far. But it has yet to advance past the second round of the postseason.

Who are the Miami Heat’s Biggest Rivals?

The Miami Heat have a few rivals. The most heated is with the New York Knicks, which stems from intense postseason matchups from 1997-2000. The players legitimately fought for playoff wins as both the 1997 and 1998 seasons saw brawls between the squads. P.J. Brown fought Charlie Ward in 1997 and Knicks head coach Jeff Van Gundy hung onto the leg of Heat star Alonzo Mourning during a mid-game fight in 1998. The Heat won in 1997 while the Knicks won in 1998, 1999, and 2000. The Heat got revenge in 2012 and 2023 with playoff series victories. The Heat also have rivalries with the Orlando Magic and the Boston Celtics.

Game Results Between the Hornets & Heat

The Heat swept all four games from the Hornets this year, including one that was a part of the NBA In-Season Tournament.

Charlotte Hornets vs. Miami Heat History

The Hornets vs. Heat history will forever be linked because they joined the NBA in the same season. The Heat made the playoffs first, but the Hornets were quicker to win a playoff series. A big trade headlined the early Hornets vs. Heat history as Mourning, having rejected Charlotte’s contract offer, was traded to Miami in 1995. The teams met for the first time in the postseason in 2001, with the Hornets sweeping the Heat in the first round. The Heat’s fortunes turned around when it drafted Dwyane Wade in 2003, which was during the two years that the Charlotte franchise was inactive. As Charlotte rebuilt, the Heat crafted a dynasty with stars like Wade, LeBron James, Ray Allen, Chris Bosh, and Shaquille O’Neal all helping lead the franchise to three titles from 2006 to 2013. In 2014, Charlotte and Miami faced off in the playoffs. The Heat beat the then-Bobcats in the first round. Two years later, the Heat edged the Hornets in a seven-game series in the first round as well.

Where Do the Miami Heat and Charlotte Hornets Play?

The Miami Heat play at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. Kaseya Center has been in use since 1999 as an entertainment venue.

The Charlotte Hornets play at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. It is a popular concert and events space.