LaMelo Ball won it for Hornets as Josh Green and Matisse Thybulle is through the Playoffs in 7 seed<\/p>\n
Former NBL\u00a0Next Star<\/a> and the league’s youngest player to record a triple double LaMelo Ball<\/a> kept Australian Josh Green<\/a>‘s Charlotte Hornets 2026 NBA\u00a0Play-off hopes alive with a game-winning bucket in overtime against the Miami Heat in Charlotte, North Carolina, today (AEDT).<\/p>\n Ball, who played for the Illawarra Hawks seven years ago, laid the ball in with just 4.7 seconds left in overtime to lead the Hornets to a thrilling 127-126.<\/p>\n Ball’s bucket led to Miles Bridges’ block on Davion Mitchell’s game-winning attempt at the other end as the clock expired. <\/p>\n It knocked out Bam Adebayo’s Miami Heat. Adebayo holds the record for the second most points in a single NBA game with 83 against the Washington Wizards earlier in the season.<\/p>\n Charlotte advances to the final Eastern Conference Play-In game, keeping its postseason hopes alive. <\/p>\n The Hornets are now just one win away from its first playoff appearance in 10 years.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n NBA Play-In Tournament \u2013\u00a0Charlotte Hornets 127 def. Miami Heat 126 (OT)<\/p>\n Spectrum Center \u2014 Charlotte, NC Game SnapshotQuarter Scores: CHA 26\u201324, 26\u201330, 37\u201329, 25\u201331, OT 13\u201312Largest Lead: Miami by 7 \u2502 Charlotte by 6Game Flow: Late-game chaos as Charlotte forces OT, then wins on final possession<\/p>\n Charlotte edged Miami 127\u2013126 in overtime in a wild Play-In finish, with a late layup and defensive stand sealing the result in front of a home crowd. <\/p>\n Miami controlled stretches through the third and early fourth, but Charlotte\u2019s perimeter shooting surge flipped momentum before a dramatic closing sequence in both regulation and overtime.<\/p>\n The Hornets forced overtime after a clutch corner three, then traded blows in the extra period. Miami briefly regained control at 126\u2013125 after a three-shot foul and perfect free-throw trip, but Charlotte answered immediately with a go-ahead drive.<\/p>\n With no timeout, Miami pushed in transition \u2014 only for the final layup attempt to be blocked at the buzzer, ending their season.<\/p>\n Star Performers Lead CharlotteLaMelo Ball \u2014 30 points, 10 assists, game-winning layupMiles Bridges \u2014 28 points, 9 rebounds, game-saving blockCoby White \u2014 19 points, 5-of-8 from three, including key late shots<\/p>\n Charlotte\u2019s three-guard creation and shot-making defined the comeback, particularly during a decisive third-quarter run and late-game execution.<\/p>\n Miami Production Not EnoughDavion Mitchell \u2014 28 points, 12-of-24 FGAndrew Wiggins \u2014 27 points, 4-of-8 from threeTyler Herro \u2014 23 points, clutch free throws late<\/p>\n Miami generated efficient offence (48% FG, 39% from three) but couldn\u2019t close the final possession in either regulation or overtime.<\/p>\n \ud83c\udde6\ud83c\uddfa Josh Green \u2014 Game Impact<\/p>\n
Halftime: Miami 54\u201352<\/p>\n