The Miami Heat have set a franchise record by scoring 53 points in the first quarter against the Charlotte Hornets on Friday night.

The Charlotte Hornets announced that guards LaMelo Ball and Collin Sexton have both been downgraded to 'doubtful' to play in tonight's game against the Miami He

Why LaMelo Ball isn't playing tonight for Hornets vs. Heat with injury news originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here. The Charlotte Hornets continue to be without their best player. LaMelo Ball is on the sideline for the third straight game.

But now, instead of crawling through games as the Heat have done in the past, Miami has turned the dial all the way up. Through seven games, the Heat lead the league in pace, averaging 106.4 possessions per 48 minutes.

Late last month, the Charlotte Hornets were clobbered by the Miami Heat in South Beach by a 144-117 score. Tonight, they'll meet once again at Kaseya Center, bu