Hornets stun Heat in OT

Charlotte is still alive after LaMelo Ball’s late layup and Miles Bridges’ block at the buzzer gave the Hornets a 127-126 overtime win over Miami on Tuesday, April 14. (espn.com) Ball scored 30 points for Charlotte, and Davion Mitchell led Miami with 28 in a game that was tied after regulation before the Hornets closed it in the extra period. (espn.com) The game was the Eastern Conference nine-versus-10 play-in matchup, which meant Miami was eliminated with the loss and Charlotte moved on to Friday’s game for the No. 8 seed. (nba.com) Charlotte finished the regular season 44-38 and earned the home game as the No. 9 seed, one spot ahead of Miami at 43-39. The winner of Tuesday’s game advances, but still needs one more win to reach the first round of the playoffs. (aol.com) (nba.com) That format is why the margin mattered so much: the nine-ten game is a sudden-elimination round, while the loser of the seven-eight game gets one more chance in the Friday play-in final. Charlotte will face the loser of Orlando Magic against Philadelphia 76ers for the East’s last playoff berth. (usatoday.com) (espn.com) For Charlotte, the result keeps alive a push for the franchise’s first playoff appearance since 2016. The Hornets had not reached the postseason in the 10 seasons between that 2016 berth and this week’s play-in game. (nba.com) The league’s 2026 play-in tournament runs from April 14 through April 17, and the first round of the playoffs starts April 18. All play-in games are listed by the league as exclusive to Prime Video. (nba.com) Charlotte opened the night as the home team at Spectrum Center, and it left with the same season still on the line — only now with one game separating the Hornets from the bracket that starts this weekend. (nba.com)