LaMelo Ball’s decisive drive secures victory for Hornets in intense play-in match.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — LaMelo Ball scored a layup with 4.7 seconds remaining in overtime, while Miles Bridges blocked Davion Mitchell’s last-second layup attempt, leading the Charlotte Hornets to a 127-126 victory over Miami in an exhilarating opening to the NBA’s play-in games, thus eliminating the Heat from playoff contention on Tuesday night.
Ball concluded the game with 30 points and 10 assists, and Bridges contributed 28 points along with nine rebounds, marking the Hornets’ first postseason home victory in ten years. Coby White added 19 points, including a pivotal turnaround three-pointer with 10.8 seconds left in regulation that forced the game into overtime.
Ball became the fourth player to achieve at least 30 points and 10 assists in a play-in game, joining Josh Giddey (2023 with Thunder), Kyrie Irving (2022 with Nets), and Damian Lillard (2020 with Trail Blazers).
Mitchell scored 28 points, and Andrew Wiggins contributed 27 for the Heat, who lost Bam Adebayo to a lower back injury after Ball inadvertently tripped him in the second quarter.
The Hornets will head to face the loser of Wednesday’s game between Philadelphia and Orlando on Friday night for the eighth and final playoff position in the Eastern Conference. Charlotte aims for its first playoff appearance in a decade.
The Heat will not qualify for the playoffs for the first time since the 2018-19 season.
The Associated Press and ESPN Research contributed to this report.
