LaMelo’s OT layup seals win

Charlotte survived Miami 127-126 in overtime on April 14 when LaMelo Ball drove for the winning layup with 4.7 seconds left. (nba.com) Ball finished with 30 points and 10 assists for Charlotte, while Davion Mitchell scored 28 for Miami in the East play-in game at Spectrum Center. (espn.com) Miles Bridges preserved the win on the final possession by blocking Mitchell’s layup attempt at the buzzer. The Hornets opened the fourth quarter with a 13-point lead, then had to recover after Miami forced overtime. (newsday.com) The National Basketball Association play-in tournament gives the No. 7 through No. 10 teams in each conference a path to the last two playoff spots. Charlotte entered as the East No. 9 seed at 44-38, and Miami entered as No. 10 at 43-39. (nba.com) (cbssports.com) That format made Tuesday’s game an elimination game for Miami and a stay-alive game for Charlotte. The Hornets advanced to another East play-in game, while the Heat were knocked out of the postseason field. (cbssports.com) (usatoday.com) Miami lost Bam Adebayo after 11 minutes and 26 seconds; he scored six points before exiting, according to the box score. Charlotte still needed overtime even after winning the rebounding battle 43-34 and getting 19 points from KJ Simpson. (basketball-reference.com) The teams had split the season with Miami winning the series 3-1, but Charlotte had taken the most recent meeting 136-106 on March 17. Tuesday’s result flipped that edge in the game that ended Miami’s season. (nba.com) The East bracket now moves to one more elimination game to decide the final playoff spot. Charlotte is still playing because Ball got to the rim with 4.7 seconds left, and Bridges got one stop after that. (cbssports.com) (newsday.com)