Home / Sports / Miami Heat Shatter Franchise Record with Historic 53-Point First Quarter
Miami Heat Shatter Franchise Record with Historic 53-Point First Quarter
8 Nov, 2025
Summary
- Miami Heat score 53 points in the first quarter, a franchise record
- Second-highest scoring opening period in NBA history
- Miami made 10 3-pointers and led 53-33 at the end of the quarter
The Miami Heat made history on November 4th, 2023, by scoring a franchise-record 53 points in the first quarter against the Charlotte Hornets. This was the second-highest scoring opening period in the NBA's shot-clock era, which dates back to 1951.
The Heat's offensive onslaught was led by Norman Powell, who scored a team-high 11 points in the quarter. Miami used nine players in the period, and all nine of them found the scoresheet. The Heat's 53-point outburst tied for the ninth-highest scoring quarter in the NBA's shot-clock era, including playoff games.
The previous Heat record for points in a quarter was 48, set in the fourth quarter against the New York Knicks on March 2, 1989. The previous first-quarter record for Miami was 47, set at the Washington Wizards on January 9, 2021.
Despite their blistering start, the Heat only led 72-69 at halftime, as the Hornets managed to cut the deficit to just three points by the end of the second quarter.
