NBA -- After slow start, Heat burns Hornets, 105-100

MIAMI -- The Miami Heat ​started cold, missing their first 11 shots to fall behind early, 16-1. But they found their range as the game progressed and eventually overcame the Charlotte Hornets, 105-100, on Friday night at the American Airlines Arena.

​Josh Richardson led the way with 27 points​ while ​Dion Waiters​, who sealed the deal with a late 3,​ added 19 ​points. ​Tyler Johnson had 12​ while point guard Goran Dragic filled the stats sheet with 7 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists as Miami improved to 11-11 for the season​.

​The Heat, who shot 48.8 percent from the field and 40 percent from long distance, are half a game behind for a playoffs spot in the Eastern Conference but Waiters is least worried for now.

"We got the win, that's most important. Bit once we figure this thing out we know how good we can be -- especially defensively," Waiters told NBA.com​

Marvin Williams was the top gun for the losing Hornets with 16 points and 6 rebounds while Nicolas Batum registered 13 and 5 boards. Michael Carter-Williams finished wi​t​h 12 while Michael Gilchrist and Dwight Howard had 10 apiece with Howard pulling down 9 rebounds.

With their fourth consecutive loss, the Hornets dropped to 8-13 for 13th place in the Eastern Conference. They are three games behind for a playoffs spot.

Photo: Heat stalwarts Dion Waiters and Goran Dragic scramble for the loose ball against Charlotte's Michael Carter-Williams on Friday night at the American Airlines Arena. Miami stopped the Hornets, 105-100.