In the first two games of Dwyane Wade’s return from a sprained right ankle, Miami ditched its three-point shooting ways of the previous six games for a quicker, more transition-oriented game.

On Monday, the Heat showed it can run the floor and still play the perimeter. Miami was most effective mixing and matching against the Hornets, as the Heat used an explosive third quarter to turn a two-point halftime advantage into an insurmountable 19-point lead.

After eight fast-break points and one three pointer in the first half, Miami racked up 13 fast-break points and connected on 5 of 6 shots from beyond the arc in the third quarter.

“We just didn’t have the third-quarter energy that was needed to match what they brought to the table,” Hornets coach Monty Williams said. “That was the difference in the game.”

Miami’s fast-break offense worked in spurts in the third quarter. The Heat recorded two layups and a dunk to start the second half, and six minutes later Miami went on a 7-0 run in which all of its points came on the break.

In total, the Heat’s 25 fast-break points Monday were its most since recording 26 against the Clippers on Jan. 11.

“[The Heat’s] transition offense might be the best I have ever seen,” Williams said. “You can almost feel the wind blowing by you when those guys take off in transition.”

Wade’s return has brought lots of exciting plays and transition dunks, but before Monday it came at the expense of Miami’s three-point shooting. In six games without Wade, the Heat averaged 17.5 three pointers per game. Against the Knicks and the Bulls, Miami put up a combined 18 threes. The Heat connected on five three-pointers in its previous two games, which was how many Miami made in the third quarter against the Hornets.

Although the Heat’s fast-break offense might be the best in the NBA, Monday it was Miami’s transition attack in conjunction with its willingness to pull up from beyond the arc that overwhelmed New Orleans. Normally a stout perimeter team — New Orleans has held opponents to a 31.6 percent clip from beyond the arc — the Hornets struggled to keep up with the Heat in the third quarter.

“We had a rough third quarter,” center Emeka Okafor said. “That is the game right there. You blink and all of a sudden the lead has opened up.”

On the Heat’s fourth offensive possession after halftime, Mario Chalmers squared up for a 25-foot three-pointer. Chalmers nailed it and added another 11/2 minutes later from the right wing. James and Mike Miller each connected on a long-range shot.

Miami’s offensive onslaught in the third quarter came after an 18-4 run to end the first half. For Chris Bosh, maintaining momentum after halftime was key.

“We can’t play the way we want to by taking the ball out of the net,” Bosh said. “When we get teams on their heels, [Wade and James] get attacks, and it starts spreading to [Chalmers] and [James Jones] and Mike Miller out in the three. They get their feet set and they’re wide open, that’s when they’re really, really dangerous. That’s when we can build rhythm, build momentum.

“We can increase leads, and we can do it really fast.”