CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) – The Charlotte Hornets will need to win one more game to advance to the playoffs and snap the longest drought in the Eastern Conference.
The Hornets on Tuesday, April 14, were looking to win their first play-in game since its inception in 2021. The Hornets were 0-2 in the play-in tournament. On the season, the Hornets were 1-3 against Miami.
In overtime, Miami’s Tyler Herro scored the last six points in-between a Charlotte turnover to give the Heat a one-point lead at 126-125. With less than 5 seconds to play, LaMelo Ball made the game winning lay-up to give them a 127-126 lead.
Ball finished the game with a double-double, on 30 points and 10 assists. Miles Bridges added 28 points and shot 56% from the floor. Rookie Kon Knueppel finished with 6 points and was 0-for-6 from deep.
With the Hornets trailing 114-111 with 12 seconds to play, Coby White drilled a 3-pointer to tie the game at 114-114. Herro had a chance to win the game but his 3-pointer fell short at the buzzer in regulation.
Charlotte, trailed 108-111 with less than 50 seconds to play, and had a chance to tie the game, but Grant Williams missed a corner 3-pointer.
Then, Jaime Jaquez Jr. split a pair of free throws to give the Heat a four point lead at 112-108 with less than 30 seconds to go.
However, Brandon Miller knocked down a 3 with less than 20 seconds to play to make it 112-111. Herro gave the Heat a 3-point lead with 13 seconds left to play.
It was a game of runs at the end of the 3rd quarter and 4th quarter between the two teams.
The Heat looked like the better team for much of the 3rd quarter before Charlotte used a 10-0 run to make it 84-79 late in the third quarter. White capped the third quarter with 3-pointer at the buzzer to make it a six point lead for the Hornets.
White scored the final 8 points in the third quarter giving them an 89-83 lead headed into the final period.
The Heat used a run of their own, a 12-0 one give them a one point lead at 97-93 with 7:25 left to play. Charlotte had scored since the 10:22 mark in the fourth quarter.
Another run for Charlotte, a 7-0 run, would tie game at 102-102 with 4:14 left to play.
Miami quickly regained a 6 point lead at 108-102. Brandon Miller would knock down a 3 to make it 108-105. Tyler Herro returned the favor with a 3 of his own to make it 111-105.
LaMelo Ball led the Hornets in the first half as he had 17 points and Miles Bridges added 15. Rookie Kon Knueppel was 0-for-5 from deep and had 6 points. Heat star player Bam Adebayo was injured early in the second quarter.
Miami took a two-point lead to the locker time, at 54-52.
Adebayo did not return for the second half and would miss the remainder of the game with a lower back injury.
Charlotte will play the loser between the Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic on Friday, April 17.
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