Charlotte Hornets Win Thrilling Play-In Game Against Miami Heat

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 12:45:00 +0200

The Charlotte Hornets secured a dramatic 127-126 overtime victory against the Miami Heat in the SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament, keeping their postseason hopes alive. LaMelo Ball led the Hornets with a standout performance, scoring 30 points and providing 10 assists despite struggling with his 3-point shots. The absence of Miami’s star center, Bam Adebayo, due to a lower back injury, significantly impacted the Heat, who played nearly three quarters without him. Coby White, acquired from the Bulls in February, emerged as a crucial contributor off the bench, scoring 19 points and making pivotal plays in the third quarter to shift the momentum. Rookie Kon Knueppel struggled with his shooting, failing to hit any of his three-point attempts and seeing limited minutes late in the game. The win sets up the Hornets to face either the Philadelphia 76ers or Orlando Magic on Friday, with the chance to challenge the East’s No. 1 seed, the Detroit Pistons, in the first round. The game was marked by hig