Hornets win in OT

Charlotte survived Miami 127-126 in overtime on Tuesday night, staying alive in the Eastern Conference play-in after a final minute that swung three times. (nba.com) LaMelo Ball scored 30 points with 10 assists and hit the go-ahead layup with 4.7 seconds left in overtime. Miles Bridges then chased down Davion Mitchell and blocked Miami’s last shot at the buzzer. (espn.com) Coby White forced overtime with 10.8 seconds left in regulation, catching an inbounds pass and drilling an off-balance corner three. White finished with 19 points after Charlotte got 37 points in the third quarter to flip the game. (nba.com) The ending turned twice in the final 26 seconds of overtime. Ball put Charlotte up five, Tyler Herro hit a corner three, Ball then turned it over and fouled Herro on another three, and Herro’s free throws gave Miami a 126-125 lead before Ball answered on the next possession. (espn.com) The win moved No. 9 Charlotte into Friday’s game for the East’s eighth and final playoff spot. The Hornets will face the loser of Wednesday’s Philadelphia 76ers-Orlando Magic game. (nba.com) Charlotte entered the night needing two play-in wins to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2016. The Hornets finished the regular season 44-38, their best win total since 2015-16, after going 33-16 from January 1 through the end of the season. (nba.com) Miami’s season ended after another play-in trip under Erik Spoelstra. The Heat finished 43-39, and Bam Adebayo left Tuesday’s game with a lower back injury in the second quarter after Ball tripped him. (espn.com) The matchup also showed the contrast that got both teams here. Charlotte had become one of the league’s best three-point shooting teams after January 1, while Miami leaned on drives, free throws and late scoring from Mitchell, Andrew Wiggins and Herro. (nba.com) For one night, Charlotte’s season came down to three plays: White’s three to extend it, Ball’s layup to reclaim it, and Bridges’ block to keep it. (nba.com)