Dwyane Wade scored 19 points and Jason Kapono had seven of his 12 points in the final 1:46 to help the Miami Heat rally for a 109-105 exhibition win over the New Orleans Hornets on Tuesday night.

The Heat trailed 101-97 with three minutes remaining following a layup by the Hornets' Jannero Pargo, then outscored New Orleans 12-4 the rest of the way for their first win in three pre-season games.

Wade played 24 minutes _ all 12 in each of the first and third quarters _ and finished with five rebounds and five assists, while shooting 7-for-13 from the floor.

Dorell Wright took advantage of a rare start by adding 13 points and 10 rebounds for the Heat. Earl Barron added 12 points.

Pargo had 22 points on 9-of-13 shooting for New Orleans, which had six players in double figures. Linton Johnson and Desmond Mason had 15 points apiece, while Tyson Chandler, Rasual Butler and Chris Paul each scored 10 for the Hornets _ who are 1-2 in the pre-season.

Pargo hit a three-pointer with 3:27 left to put the Hornets up 99-97, then added a layup after a Heat turnover on the next possession. But Kapono hit a three-pointer to draw Miami within one, then had back-to-back baskets _ the last a bank from the right wing with 38.6 seconds left to put the Heat up for good.

Shaquille O'Neal played only the first six minutes, leaving with six points on 3-for-4 shooting, two turnovers and three fouls.

It was Miami's first home game since winning Game 5 of last season's NBA finals.

Predictably, this one didn't exactly have a championship feel. Most seats were empty, as they typically are in the pre-season.

The Heat shot 49 per cent, while committing 17 turnovers and 25 fouls. New Orleans hit 44 percent of its shots.

Wright started in place of Antoine Walker, the only Heat regular to be given the night off. It's expected that Wade, who has been bothered by a hand injury, won't play Friday when Miami visits Memphis _ part of a four-game, six-night stretch to end the pre-season.