LaMelo Ball's Clutch Layup Lifts Hornets in Overtime Thriller Over Heat
In a heart-pounding start to the NBA Play-In Tournament, the Charlotte Hornets edged the Miami Heat 127-126 in overtime on Tuesday night, thanks to late-game heroics from LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges. The victory marks Charlotte's first postseason home win in a decade, keeping their playoff hopes alive.
Decisive Moments Seal the Win
With just 4.7 seconds remaining in overtime, Ball drove down the right side and converted a leaning layup to give the Hornets a 127-126 lead. Miami, out of timeouts, pushed the ball upcourt, but Bridges chased down Davion Mitchell and blocked his potential game-winner at the buzzer, sparking wild celebrations among the Charlotte faithful.
Earlier, the game had seen dramatic swings. Ball's layup had given Charlotte a five-point advantage with 26 seconds left in overtime, but Miami fought back as Tyler Herro hit a tough corner three-pointer and then drew a foul on a three-point attempt, making all three free throws to put the Heat ahead 126-125 with 8.7 seconds to go.
Key Performances and Turning Points
Ball finished with an impressive stat line of 30 points and 10 assists, while Bridges added 28 points and nine rebounds. Coby White played a crucial role, chipping in 19 points, including a turnaround three-pointer with 10.8 seconds left in regulation that forced overtime. For Miami, Mitchell led with 28 points, and Andrew Wiggins contributed 27 points.
The Heat faced adversity when Bam Adebayo exited in the second quarter with a lower back injury after being tripped by Ball. Despite his absence, Miami controlled much of the game until late in the third quarter, when White sparked a 10-0 run with back-to-back three-pointers, giving Charlotte an 89-83 lead heading into the fourth.
Miami responded strongly, taking a 102-95 advantage behind consecutive three-pointers from Wiggins. However, Charlotte rallied again, with White tying the game with an off-balance corner three. Herro's potential game-winner at the end of regulation bounced off the back iron, setting the stage for overtime.
Playoff Implications and Next Steps
With this win, the Hornets advance to face the loser of Thursday's Philadelphia-Orlando matchup on Saturday (PH time). The winner of that game will earn the Eastern Conference's No. 8 playoff seed. Charlotte is striving to reach the playoffs for the first time in 10 years, adding extra significance to this hard-fought victory.
Western Conference Play-In Action
In the Western Conference play-in game, the Portland Trail Blazers mounted a comeback to defeat the Phoenix Suns 114-110. Deni Avdija led the way with a stellar performance of 41 points and 12 assists. His decisive three-point play with 16.1 seconds remaining gave Portland a 112-110 lead, sealing the win after Jordan Goodwin had put Phoenix ahead 110-109 moments earlier.
The Trail Blazers secured the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference playoffs and will face the San Antonio Spurs in the first round. Phoenix will host the winner of the Clippers-Warriors play-in game for the final playoff berth, with the victor advancing to face the Oklahoma City Thunder.
