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abr 15 2026CHARLOTTE — The Charlotte Hornets secured a thrilling 127-126 victory over the Miami Heat in the NBA play-in, thanks to a crucial layup by LaMelo Ball and a decisive block by Miles Bridges, eliminating the Heat and keeping their playoff hopes alive in the Eastern Conference.
The opening of the game was marked by Miami Heat's control, who despite losing Bam Adebayo to a back injury in the second quarter, managed to maintain their lead for much of the contest. Davion Mitchell (28 points) and Andrew Wiggins (27) led the visiting offense, keeping the Hornets at a distance in a balanced first half.
The turning point came late in the third quarter. With Charlotte seeking a comeback, Coby White—crucial since his mid-season arrival—strung together several three-pointers, including one at the buzzer, as part of a 10-0 run that flipped the scoreboard (89-83). That momentum allowed the Charlotte Hornets to enter the final period with renewed energy.
However, the Miami Heat responded early in the fourth quarter. Two consecutive three-pointers by Andrew Wiggins gave the visitors the initiative back (102-95), forcing Charlotte to battle again. In a finish of maximum tension, Coby White appeared again with an incredible corner three-pointer off an inbound pass to tie the game, while Tyler Herro missed the game-winning shot in regulation.
Overtime pushed the drama to the limit. LaMelo Ball, the absolute leader of the Charlotte Hornets, finished with 30 points and 10 assists, while Miles Bridges contributed 28 points and 9 rebounds in a complete performance. The point guard put his team up five with 26 seconds remaining, but a chaotic sequence changed the script: a three-pointer by Herro (23 points), a turnover by Ball, and a subsequent foul that allowed Miami's shooting guard to make three free throws and put the Heat up 126-125.
With the game on the line, Ball took responsibility. After a timeout, he drove down the right side and made a floating layup with 4.7 seconds remaining to give Charlotte back the lead. Without timeouts, the Miami Heat looked for one last play, but Miles Bridges appeared with a decisive block on Davion Mitchell in the final moment, unleashing euphoria at the Spectrum Center.
This victory keeps the Charlotte Hornets alive in the NBA play-in and brings them closer to their first playoff appearance in a decade.
The Charlotte Hornets will now face the loser of the Philadelphia 76ers vs. Orlando Magic matchup in pursuit of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, while the Miami Heat are eliminated after falling in a dramatic finish.
