Hornets Win Double Overtime Thriller Against Heat, Keep Playoff Hopes Alive
In the NBA play-in tournament, the Charlotte Hornets defeated the Miami Heat 127-126 in double overtime, securing their chance to contend for the Eastern Conference 8th seed. LaMelo Ball led the Hornets with 30 points, 10 assists, and 5 rebounds, scoring the crucial game-winning basket. The Heat's season ended after failing to hold onto their lead twice.
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- 📰 Published: April 15, 2026 at 12:46
- 🔍 Collected: April 15, 2026 at 13:01 (15 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 15, 2026 at 19:35 (6h 33m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency, Charlotte, 14th, comprehensive foreign wire report) The NBA play-in tournament is underway. The Charlotte Hornets twice staged a comeback in the final seconds today, ultimately defeating the Miami Heat 127-126 in overtime by a single point, eliminating them and keeping their hopes alive for the Eastern Conference 8th seed.
In this thrilling play-in game, the Heat still held a one-point lead with 5 seconds left in overtime. However, Hornets' LaMelo Ball delivered a crucial quasi-game-winner, ending the Heat's season. Ball scored a game-high 30 points today, along with 10 assists and 5 rebounds.
The 9th-ranked Hornets and 10th-ranked Heat in the regular season faced the pressure of elimination in the play-in tournament. The Heat held a slight advantage at halftime, leading 54-52, and the two teams battled closely until the end of the fourth quarter.
The Heat took a 114-111 lead with two free throws in the final 13 seconds, but Hornets' Coby White hit a crucial three-pointer, sending the game into overtime after the Heat's victory slipped away. White had 19 points today, shooting 5-for-8 from three-point range, including this game-tying shot.
The score remained tight in overtime. However, with about 26 seconds left, the Hornets held a five-point lead. The Heat's Tyler Herro then hit a three-point fadeaway to narrow the gap. After Hornets' LaMelo Ball carelessly lost the ball, he fouled Herro during a three-point attempt. Herro made all three free throws, giving the Heat a 126-125 lead.
With 9 seconds left, the Heat still had a one-point lead, but unexpectedly, Ball redeemed himself, driving for a layup in the final 5 seconds to score the crucial two points. The Heat's victory once again slipped away, and their entire team was eliminated from this year's playoffs.
Besides Ball's excellent performance today, Miles Bridges also contributed 28 points for the Hornets. Davion Mitchell scored 28 points for the Heat, and Andrew Wiggins contributed 27 points.
The victorious Hornets will now face the loser of the Philadelphia 76ers vs. Orlando Magic game. If they win, they will enter this year's NBA playoffs as the Eastern Conference 8th seed. (Compiled by Qu Xiangping) 1150415
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(Central News Agency, Charlotte, 14th, comprehensive foreign wire report) The NBA play-in tournament is underway. The Charlotte Hornets twice staged a comeback in the final seconds today, ultimately defeating the Miami Heat 127-126 in overtime by a single point, eliminating them and keeping their hopes alive for the Eastern Conference 8th seed.
In this thrilling play-in game, the Heat still held a one-point lead with 5 seconds left in overtime. However, Hornets' LaMelo Ball delivered a crucial quasi-game-winner, ending the Heat's season. Ball scored a game-high 30 points today, along with 10 assists and 5 rebounds.
The 9th-ranked Hornets and 10th-ranked Heat in the regular season faced the pressure of elimination in the play-in tournament. The Heat held a slight advantage at halftime, leading 54-52, and the two teams battled closely until the end of the fourth quarter.
The Heat took a 114-111 lead with two free throws in the final 13 seconds, but Hornets' Coby White hit a crucial three-pointer, sending the game into overtime after the Heat's victory slipped away. White had 19 points today, shooting 5-for-8 from three-point range, including this game-tying shot.
The score remained tight in overtime. However, with about 26 seconds left, the Hornets held a five-point lead. The Heat's Tyler Herro then hit a three-point fadeaway to narrow the gap. After Hornets' LaMelo Ball carelessly lost the ball, he fouled Herro during a three-point attempt. Herro made all three free throws, giving the Heat a 126-125 lead.
With 9 seconds left, the Heat still had a one-point lead, but unexpectedly, Ball redeemed himself, driving for a layup in the final 5 seconds to score the crucial two points. The Heat's victory once again slipped away, and their entire team was eliminated from this year's playoffs.
Besides Ball's excellent performance today, Miles Bridges also contributed 28 points for the Hornets. Davion Mitchell scored 28 points for the Heat, and Andrew Wiggins contributed 27 points.
The victorious Hornets will now face the loser of the Philadelphia 76ers vs. Orlando Magic game. If they win, they will enter this year's NBA playoffs as the Eastern Conference 8th seed. (Compiled by Qu Xiangping) 1150415
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency "First-hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.
Keywords: None
FAQ
Which team won the NBA play-in tournament game?
The Charlotte Hornets defeated the Miami Heat.
How many points did LaMelo Ball score for the Hornets?
LaMelo Ball scored 30 points.