Hornets rally from 19 down in second half, top Heat 97-91

By TIM REYNOLDS
AP Basketball Writer

Charlotte Hornets guard Marco Belinelli
collides with Miami Heat forward Justise
Winslow (20) during the first half of an
NBA basketball game, Friday, Oct. 28,
2016, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

MIAMI (AP) -- Kemba Walker already knows one thing about these Charlotte Hornets.

"We're resilient," Walker said.

That was proven in earnest Friday night.

Walker scored 24 points and the Hornets erased a 19-point deficit in the third quarter on the way to beating Miami 97-91. Charlotte won in the building where its season ended in Game 7 of a first-round matchup last spring, albeit against a very different Heat team that played a home opener without Dwyane Wade on the roster for the first time since 2002.

"We could have given up, but we didn't," Walker said. "We kept wanting it."

Hassan Whiteside led Miami with 20 points and 15 rebounds but sat a long stretch of the second half with foul trouble and needed four stitches to close a gash on his left elbow.

Down 65-46, Walker made a 3-pointer to unknowingly start what became a 29-point turnaround. The Hornets clamped down on Miami in the second half, with the Heat shooting 6 for 17 from behind the arc in the final 24 minutes - and just 6 for 26 from 2-point range in that time. Charlotte's reserves had 30 points after halftime, while the entire Miami roster combined for 34.

"One thing is we were able to stop their penetration more," Hornets coach Steve Clifford said. "Our defense more energized the offense, and we got really good bench play."

Jeremy Lamb scored 16 points for the Hornets, who had six players in double figures and turned the 65-46 hole into a 94-84 lead with 3 minutes left - a 48-19 run in about 18 minutes. Nic Batum and Marco Belinelli each scored 12 points for Charlotte.

"They're a well-coached, veteran team," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "They weren't punch-drunk or anything when we went up. ... We knew going in we would have to play a complete game against them and we weren't able to do that."

Goran Dragic scored 14 points and Dion Waiters added 13 for the Heat, who lost a home opener for the first time in nine years. Charlotte had runs of 12-0 and 9-1 in the third quarter alone.

"We just stopped getting stops," Heat forward Justise Winslow said. "That was it."

TIP-INS

Hornets: Roy Hibbert started at center, played the first 4:29, and did not return because of right knee soreness. Cody Zeller started the second half in his place. ... Frank Kaminsky (right foot strain) went through a pregame workout but was inactive. ... Belinelli now has 11 regular season appearances in Miami with seven different teams.

Heat: Team captain Udonis Haslem grabbed a microphone and addressed the crowd before tip-off, promising them that "we will play as hard as we can for you guys every night." ... The locker Wade used for the last several years is now empty, not assigned to any current Heat player. ... Wayne Ellington (right thigh bruise) and Josh Richardson (right knee) were again sidelined.

FOR STARTERS

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist just recently turned 23, missed most of last season with a shoulder injury and still made the 200th start of his Charlotte career on Friday night. Miami's entire starting five - Dragic (100), Whiteside (77), Winslow (10), Luke Babbitt (2) and Waiters (2) - now have a combined 191 starts in Heat colors.

RILEY SPEAKS

Heat President Pat Riley sat down with team broadcast outlet Fox Sports Sun before the game and raved about the job Spoelstra has done with a new group that was largely assembled after Wade left for Chicago this summer (and before Chris Bosh failed his physical in September to essentially end his time with the team).

"There's a saying that Spo uses a lot, and I like to use it myself now ... when you look at a player, the player doesn't care what you know until he knows how much you care," Riley said. "Spo and his staff cares a lot about these guys and these young players."

UP NEXT

Hornets: Saturday, they play their home opener against Boston.

Heat: Sunday, the homestand continues when San Antonio visits.

Pistons roll in home opener, 108-82 over Magic

By NOAH TRISTER
AP Sports Writer

Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond (0)
is fouled by Orlando Magic forward Aaron
Gordon (00) during the first half of an NBA
basketball game, Friday, Oct. 28, 2016 in
Auburn Hills, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) -- If this was the final home opener for the Detroit Pistons at The Palace, they certainly produced a performance worthy of the occasion.

Andre Drummond had 12 points and 20 rebounds, and the Pistons routed the Orlando Magic 108-82 on Friday night in their most lopsided victory in a home opener. Tobias Harris scored 18 points for the Pistons, and Marcus Morris added 17.

"It was a good team effort tonight," coach Stan Van Gundy said. "I thought everybody was involved and played well."

Pistons owner Tom Gores confirmed before the game the team is close on a deal to move downtown next season, so a run in Auburn Hills that's included three championships may be nearing an end. There will be time later to celebrate the history of The Palace if the move does become official, but Friday's win was a nice moment already. Detroit's 26-point victory broke a franchise record that was last matched in 1967, when the team played at Cobo Arena and the Pistons won their home opener by 23.

Ish Smith had 16 points and eight assists for Detroit on Friday. Aaron Gordon led the Magic with 17 points.

Detroit went on a 16-0 run in the second quarter to take a 44-24 lead, and the Pistons ended up outscoring Orlando 30-9 in the period. The Magic trailed 54-31 at halftime after shooting just 27 percent from the field.

There were so many missed shots by Orlando that Drummond had 16 rebounds in the first half alone.

"I thought that early on, too many guys were trying to get us into the game by themselves instead of trusting their teammates," Orlando coach Frank Vogel said. "Once it got out of hand, I think our shoulders slumped, but that's going to happen to any team that gets outplayed that badly."

Drummond reached 20 rebounds for the 28th time in his career. His rebounding has never been in question, but the big issue is whether he can finally improve his abysmal foul shooting.

He made his only two free throws Friday, drawing a big cheer from the crowd in the third quarter.

Orlando never made a game of it after its awful second quarter. The Pistons were up 86-51 after three, and even 7-foot-3 backup Boban Marjanovic got into the game at the end, much to the delight of the home fans.

TIP-INS

Magic: Orlando finished the game at 35 percent from the field. ... The Magic were outscored 60-36 in the paint.

Pistons: Detroit is without PG Reggie Jackson, who is still recovering from a left knee problem. ... Backups Aron Baynes and Beno Udrih scored 13 points apiece. ... The Pistons have won seven in a row against Orlando. ... Drummond had 11 rebounds in the second quarter.

BOUNCEBACK

Detroit made the playoffs last season for the first time since 2009, so it was a bit of a downer when the Pistons lost their opener 109-91 to Toronto. Detroit evened its record out with an emphatic victory against the Magic.

"We know what it takes to win," Drummond said. "We had that taste of success last year and we know how hard we need to play in order to be a great team. That wasn't the team that we showed against Toronto."

RETURN

Orlando had C Bismack Biyombo available after he was suspended for the opener for exceeding the flagrant foul limit in last season's playoffs. He scored two points in 22:51.

"We have to start playing as a team," Biyombo said. "We're out there playing one on one all over the court, and that's not how you win games in this league."

UP NEXT

Magic: Visit Cleveland on Saturday night. Orlando's first three games this season are against playoff teams from 2015-16. The Magic lost their opener to Miami.

Pistons: Host Milwaukee on Sunday night. Former Detroit big man Greg Monroe is in his second season with the Bucks.

Hurricane MATTHEW Public Advisory (Text) - 800 PM EDT - THU, OCT. 6, 2016

000
WTNT34 KNHC 062354
TCPAT4

BULLETIN
HURRICANE MATTHEW INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER  35A
NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL       AL142016
800 PM EDT THU OCT 06 2016

...EYE OF EXTREMELY DANGEROUS HURRICANE MATTHEW OVER THE WESTERN
END OF GRAND BAHAMA ISLAND...
...TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS SPREADING ONTO THE FLORIDA EAST
COAST...


SUMMARY OF 800 PM EDT...0000 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...26.6N 78.9W
ABOUT 15 MI...25 KM WNW OF FREEPORT GRAND BAHAMA ISLAND
ABOUT 75 MI...120 KM E OF WEST PALM BEACH FLORIDA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...130 MPH...210 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NW OR 325 DEGREES AT 13 MPH...20 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...939 MB...27.73 INCHES


WATCHES AND WARNINGS
--------------------
CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:

The Hurricane Warning has been changed to a Tropical Storm Warning
from south of Boca Raton, Florida, to north of Golden Beach.

The Tropical Warning has been discontinued south of Ocean Reef,
Florida, to Chokoloskee.

The Tropical Storm Watch has been discontinued south of
Englewood to Chokoloskee.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for...
* Northwestern Bahamas, including the Abacos, Andros Island, Berry
Islands, Bimini, Eleuthera, Grand Bahama Island, and New Providence
* Boca Raton to South Santee River
* Lake Okeechobee

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...
* Ocean Reef to south of Boca Raton
* Florida Keys from Seven Mile Bridge eastward
* Florida Bay
* Anclote River to Suwannee River
* North of South Santee River to Surf City

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for...
* Englewood to Anclote River

Interests elsewhere in the Florida Peninsula, the Florida Keys, and
in the Carolinas should monitor the progress of Matthew.

A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected
somewhere within the warning area.  A warning is typically issued
36 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-
force winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or
dangerous.  Preparations to protect life and property should be
rushed to completion.

A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are
expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours.

For storm information specific to your area in the United
States, including possible inland watches and warnings, please
monitor products issued by your local National Weather Service
forecast office. For storm information specific to your area outside
the United States, please monitor products issued by your national
meteorological service.


DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK
------------------------------
At 800 PM EDT (0000 UTC), the eye of Hurricane Matthew was located
over the western end of Grand Bahama Island near latitude 26.6
North, longitude 78.9 West. The hurricane is moving toward the
northwest near 13 mph (20 km/h), and this general motion is expected
to continue tonight with a turn toward the north-northwest early
Friday.  On the forecast track, the eye of Matthew should move away
from Grand Bahama Island during the next few hours, and move close
to or over the east coast of the Florida peninsula through Friday
night.

Reports from a NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate that maximum
sustained winds are now near 130 mph (210 km/h) with higher gusts.
Matthew is a category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane
Wind Scale.  Some fluctuations in intensity are likely while the
hurricane moves toward the coast of Florida.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 60 miles (95 km) from
the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 185
miles (295 km).  Settlement Point in the Bahamas recently reported
a sustained wind of 79 mph (128 km/h) with a gust of 105 mph (169
km/hr).  The Lake Worth Pier near Palm Beach, Florida, recently
reported a sustained wind of 46 mph (74 km/h) and a wind gust of 60
mph (96 km/h).

The minimum central pressure estimated from NOAA Hurricane Hunter
data is 939 mb (27.73 inches).


HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
----------------------
WIND:  Hurricane conditions will continue over portions of the
northwestern Bahamas this evening.

Hurricane conditions are expected to first reach the hurricane
warning area in Florida this evening and will spread northward
within the warning area through Friday.  Tropical storm conditions
will continue to spread northward in the warning area along the
Florida east coast tonight and Friday.

Hurricane conditions are expected to spread northward in the warning
area in Georgia and South Carolina Friday night and Saturday with
tropical storm conditions expected on Friday.

Winds increase rapidly in elevation in a tropical cyclone.
Residents in high-rise buildings should be aware that the winds at
the top of a 30-story building will be, on average, about one
Saffir-Simpson category higher than the winds near the surface.

Tropical storm conditions are expected in the tropical storm warning
area in the Carolinas on Friday night and Saturday.

STORM SURGE:  The combination of a dangerous storm surge and large
and destructive waves could raise water levels by as much as the
following amounts above normal tide levels...

Northwestern Bahamas...10 to 15 feet

The water could reach the following heights above ground if the peak
surge occurs at the time of high tide...

Sebastian Inlet, Florida, to Edisto Beach, South Carolina, including
portions of the St. Johns River...7 to 11 ft
Edisto Beach to South Santee River, South Carolina...4 to 6 ft
Boca Raton to Sebastian Inlet, Florida...4 to 6 ft
South Santee River, South Carolina, to Cape Fear, North Carolina...2
to 4 ft
Virginia Key to Boca Raton, Florida...1 to 3 ft

Surge-related flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge
and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over short distances.
Large waves generated by Matthew will cause water rises to occur
well in advance of and well away from the track of the center.

The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause
normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters
moving inland from the shoreline.  There is a danger of life-
threatening inundation during the next 36 hours along the Florida
east coast, the Georgia coast, and the South Carolina coast from
Boca Raton, Florida, to South Santee River, South Carolina.
There is the possibility of life-threatening inundation during the
next 48 hours from north of South Santee River, South Carolina, to
Cape Fear, North Carolina. For a depiction of areas at risk, please
see the Prototype National Weather Service Storm Surge Watch/Warning
Graphic. For information specific to your area, please see products
issued by your local National Weather Service forecast office.

The Prototype Storm Surge Watch/Warning Graphic is a depiction of
areas that would qualify for inclusion under a storm surge watch or
warning currently under development by the National Weather Service
and planned for operational use in 2017.  The Prototype Graphic is
available at hurricanes.gov.

RAINFALL:  Matthew is expected to produce total rainfall amounts in
the following areas:

The central and northern Bahamas...8 to 12 inches, isolated 15
inches
Coastal eastern Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and southeast
North Carolina....5 to 10 inches, isolated 12 inches

Rainfall should diminish across central and eastern Cuba with
isolated additional amounts of 1 to 2 inches possible through this
evening.

TORNADOES:  An isolated tornado or two is possible along the
east-central Florida coast tonight.

SURF:  Swells generated by Matthew will continue to affect portions
of the north coast of Cuba and the Bahamas during the next few days,
and will spread northward along the east coast of Florida and the
southeast U.S. coast through the weekend.  These swells will likely
cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.  Please
consult products from your local weather office.


NEXT ADVISORY
-------------
Next complete advisory at 1100 PM EDT.

$$
Forecaster Beven