LaMelo’s OT layup seals Hornets

LaMelo Ball drove for a layup with 4.7 seconds left in overtime Tuesday night, and Charlotte beat Miami 127-126 to stay alive in the Eastern Conference play-in. (nba.com) Ball finished with 30 points and 10 assists, while Miles Bridges added 28 points and nine rebounds for the Hornets in Charlotte. Davion Mitchell scored 28 for Miami, and Bridges blocked Mitchell’s final layup attempt at the buzzer. (espn.com) The result eliminated the Heat and sent the Hornets into the East’s final play-in game on Friday, April 17. Charlotte will play Orlando for the No. 8 seed after the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Magic 109-97 for No. 7 on Wednesday, April 15. (cbssports.com) The National Basketball Association play-in tournament gives teams that finish seventh through 10th a second path into the playoffs. Charlotte entered as the No. 9 seed at 44-38, so it needed two wins to reach a first-round series; Miami, the No. 10 seed at 43-39, was out with one loss. (nba.com) Charlotte’s win was its first postseason home victory in 10 years, according to the Associated Press game report carried by CBS Sports. The Hornets also became the only lower-seeded East team still alive after Philadelphia secured the conference’s first play-in berth. (cbssports.com) The game swung late even before overtime. Charlotte outscored Miami 37-29 in the third quarter, then survived a one-point overtime after Ball’s final drive and Bridges’ last defensive stop. (espn.com) Ball’s shot capped a heavy-usage night: he went 12 for 31 from the field and 4 for 4 at the line. Miami got 19 points and 14 rebounds from Kel’el Ware, but the Heat still fell one point short. (espn.com) Next comes Orlando on Friday with the East’s last playoff spot at stake. If Charlotte wins again, it will claim the No. 8 seed and open the first round against Cleveland. (cbssports.com)