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abr 13 2026The Miami Heat and Charlotte Hornets battle for their playoff lives in the 2026 NBA Play-In Tournament in a decisive matchup Tuesday at Spectrum Center. The winner advances to Friday's game for the eighth seed in the East, while the loser is eliminated.
The Miami Heat arrive with a 43-39 record after finishing fourth in the Southeast Division, though their road performance has been inconsistent this season (17-24). Meanwhile, Charlotte (44-38), third in the same division, has been more solid at home with a 21-20 mark.
In head-to-head matchups, the Miami Heat clearly dominate the all-time series (83-50) and have won 10 of the last 12 games, though the most recent meeting went to the Hornets with a convincing 136-106 victory on March 17. Additionally, Miami took the season series 3-1.
On an individual level, Bam Adebayo is expected to lead the Miami Heat in a scenario where up to six players on the team could reach double figures in scoring. On Charlotte's side, LaMelo Ball emerges as the primary offensive threat, accompanied by balanced scoring where up to five players could surpass 10 points.
A matchup with no room for error, featuring two teams separated by just one win in the regular season with a ticket to the East's final opportunity on the line.
