As the Miami Heat got a 128-120 win over the Charlotte Hornets on Friday night, it was a collective effort that saw many contributions, but it can't be denied that Tyler Herro led the way. With the Hornets backing the Heat star into Herro after the tournament, the guard is finally showing his All-Star form of last year in the most important time of the season.
This season has been full of injuries for Herro, as he missed 45 games due to a myriad of injuries, he demonstrated on Friday night why he was an All-Star last season. Herro, who recently returned from a 15-game absence due to a rib injury, had been getting more comfortable over the past eight games, but the three-point shot came back on Friday as he was eight of 10 from that range.
Overall, Herro scored a season-high 33 points on 11 of 20 shooting from the field with nine assists and nine rebounds in 37 minutes, earning a "sensational" take from head coach Erik Spoelstra.
"You can see he's finding more rhythm each game. And tonight finally the three ball started going his way. And then he can see how it opens up a lot for his game... He was sensational tonight," Spoelstra said of Axe, formerly of Heat Central, on Twitter.
“I mean, it would have been great to see him have a triple-double, because he had that kind of impact, turning the ball over when he needed to, scoring when he needed to,” Spoelstra continued. "He was manipulating the defense when he needed to."
Coach Spo on Tyler Herro:
"You can see he's finding rhythm each game... He was sensational tonight. Being in a spot where he can create something for us offensively, but on the other side, it would have been great to see him have a triple-double, because he had that kind of… https://t.co/BEbCUyLNRr pic.twitter.com/EcJqjDWnwU
- Heat Central (@HeatCulture13) 7 March 2026
Tyler Herro on the Heat's "collective win" over the Hornets
After the Heat's dominant win over the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday, the team needed a win against the Hornets on Friday, especially since entering the contest, Miami was eighth in the East and Charlotte was ninth, separated by two games. The team is looking to take advantage of big games and Friday was a great step in the right direction, especially to stop the Hornets' surging momentum.
Herro said in his TV interview after the game, "We woke up this morning, we came in late last night. And, I mean, our mentality was to come here and try to steal a shot on the road." "We know how much it means to us in the standings. And it was a collective win from top to bottom. 'Just for the competitors,' Spo said this morning. We came and competed; That was a win right there.”
Tyler Herro on winning:
"Our mentality was to come out on the road and steal. We know how much it meant to us in the standings... 'Only for competitors' https://t.co/2uzfSy0G4l pic.twitter.com/zGSFwoYpbN
- Heat Central (@HeatCulture13) 7 March 2026
At any rate, the Heat (35-29) look to continue their current four-game winning streak in Sunday's tough matchup against the Detroit Pistons, who have the NBA's best record at 45-16.
