LaMelo Ball’s overtime layup sends Hornets past Heat in wild play-in opener
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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — LaMelo Ball sliced through the lane for a right-handed layup with 4.7 seconds left in overtime, lifting the Charlotte Hornets to a 127-126 victory over the Miami Heat on Tuesday night and ending Miami’s season in the first game of the NBA play-in tournament.
Ball closed with 30 points and 10 assists, becoming just the fourth player to reach at least 30 and 10 in a play-in contest, joining Josh Giddey (2023), Kyrie Irving (2022) and Damian Lillard (2020). Miles Bridges added 28 points, nine rebounds and a game-saving block on Davion Mitchell’s driving attempt at the buzzer as Charlotte secured its first home postseason win in 10 years.
Coby White, acquired at midseason from Chicago, scored 19 points and forced overtime by banking in a turnaround three-pointer from the wing with 10.8 seconds left in regulation. His shot capped a frantic night that saw both teams trade double-digit runs and dramatic swings.
Late drama defines overtime
Ball’s layup initially put the Hornets up 122-117 with 26 seconds remaining in the extra period, but a pair of miscues nearly cost Charlotte. Tyler Herro, who finished with 23 points, buried a twisting corner three, and Ball lost the inbounds pass before fouling Herro on a three-point attempt. Herro sank all three free throws, giving Miami a 126-125 edge with 8.7 seconds to go.
After a timeout, Ball attacked the right side of the paint and converted the go-ahead layup. With no timeouts available, Miami raced upcourt, but Bridges sprinted back to swat Mitchell’s layup at the horn, setting off a celebration at midcourt as Ball flexed and teammates swarmed him.
Heat exit early, Hornets still alive
Mitchell led Miami with 28 points while Andrew Wiggins poured in 27. The Heat were forced to play the final three quarters without Bam Adebayo, who exited with a lower back injury after tripping over Ball in the second quarter. The loss ends Miami’s streak of four straight postseason appearances, its first absence since 2018-19.
The Hornets advance to face the loser of Wednesday’s Philadelphia 76ers–Orlando Magic matchup on Friday night for the Eastern Conference’s eighth and final playoff berth. Charlotte is seeking its first playoff appearance since the 2015-16 season.
Runs, replies and near misses
Despite Adebayo’s departure, the Heat controlled much of the game and led 102-95 midway through the fourth quarter behind consecutive threes from Wiggins. Charlotte surged when White banked in a three and followed with another from the top of the key during a 10-0 run late in the third, helping the Hornets enter the final period up 89-83.
White rescued Charlotte again with 4.7 seconds left in regulation, catching an inbounds pass and launching an off-balance three from the right corner to tie the game at 112. Herro’s potential winner at the horn bounced off the back rim, sending the contest to overtime and setting the stage for Ball’s decisive drive.
Source: ESPN
