Hornets focus on defense in search of Game 3 win

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Charlotte Hornets and Portland Trail Blazers are hoping a change in venue will provide some mojo in the NBA playoffs, while the Oklahoma City Thunder and Toronto Raptors look to take 3-1 leads in their first-round series Saturday.

Behind the revitalized play of Dwyane Wade, the Miami Heat swept the first two games from the Hornets by an average of 22 points — Wade’s scoring average in the series. The series shifts to Charlotte, where the Hornets were 31-10 this season.

Charlotte will be without small forward Nicolas Batum, the team’s second-leading scorer, because of a strained foot. Either Frank Kaminsky or Jeremy Lin will start in Batum’s place.

“Nic is a huge part of what we do,” point guard Kemba Walker said. “But we have been doing it all year — when one guy goes down the next guy steps up.”

Heat at Hornets, Heat lead series 2-0, 5:30 p.m. EDT, TNT

The Heat have lived up to their moniker, shooting 58 percent in the first two games of the playoffs. Miami has ripped apart Charlotte’s top-10 ranked defense, scoring 238 points on just 176 possessions, a rate of 1.35 points per possession.

“Their size is problem,” Hornets coach Steve Clifford said. “Wade and (Joe) Johnson, they’re so big and such good passers, we are really having trouble with that. That’s the biggest issue. … They’re able to see over us and they’re make passes into the interior or crosscourt and it puts more pressure on our defense.”

Luol Deng, Hassan Whiteside and Goran Dragic have also stepped up for the Heat.

Clifford said despite the lopsided losses, he wants his team to stick its game plan.

“You can’t overreact,” Clifford said afterward. “You got to stay disciplined to what you’re doing. So Dragic makes three threes against the under and then all of a sudden, we’re overextending, we’re opening up driving gaps.”

Losing Batum is a huge loss for the Hornets. He’s averaging 16.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists in the playoffs.