Heat hope to limit Hornets’ prolific three-point shooting; Larsson optimistic about return

MIAMI — Simply put, the Heat will have to defend the three-point line if they want their season to continue.

Their first — and maybe only — opponent in the play-in round, Charlotte, is one of the best teams in the league at knocking down threes.

“We have to be on all cylinders with our defense and getting to them in transition,” Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said.

The Hornets ended the regular season with a league-leading 1,343 threes, which was the fourth-most by a team in NBA history. Charlotte is third in the league with a 37.8 three-point percentage.

The Heat won the season series 3-1 despite Charlotte shooting well from beyond the arc. The Hornets averaged 16 threes in those four games and made 35.7 percent of their threes.

Miami was in the bottom third of the league in opponent threes allowed per game (14), and was 17th in opponent three-point percentage (35.9 percent).

We know how dangerous they’ve been in the last couple months, post-All-Star (Game),” Miami guard Tyler Herro said. “Obviously getting them off the three-point line, the combination of (LaMelo) Ball and (Kon) Knueppel, when you add (Brandon) Miller to that mix, it’s very dangerous, offensively. (They are) very ignitable as a group. You just got to be able to come in with a lot of focus and aggression on the defensive end, making sure that, we can take them out of their game a little bit, get them off the line. Also understand that they’re going to make a lot of shots, so trying to, when they do miss the rebound — obviously, (Moussa) Diabate is a great offensive rebounder and they crash their guards as well — so limiting the one shot and then trying to get them off the three-point line.”

Larsson aims to return

The Heat could get Pelle Larsson back for Tuesday’s play-in game in Charlotte. The second-year guard did not play in the regular-season finale on Sunday and did not practice with the team on Monday as he recovers from a right leg bruise, but he went through a separate workout and said he felt good afterwards.

“Yeah, I’m just going to try to play tomorrow. I felt good today.”

Larsson said he did not feel limited in his mobility.

“It’s just getting the right treatment up until the game and getting warm enough to play without pain,” Larsson said.

Larsson, who has started 54 games this year, is averaging 11.4 points, 3.5 rebound and 3.4 assists this season.

“I’m playing like it could be my last game of the season, so that’s what I was thinking about all morning and now during the workout, too,” Larsson said.

Other Heat injuries

Dru Smith (toe) has missed the last four games, and Spoelstra is not optimistic about him returning for Tuesday’s game.

“Dru will likely not be available tomorrow,” Spoelstra said.

Forward Nikola Jovic (ankle), who has also missed the previous four games, also did not practice.