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HOUSTON, TEXAS – MARCH 21: Head coach Erik Spoelstra of the Miami Heat reacts during the first quarter of the game between the Miami Heat and the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on March 21, 2026 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images)
The Miami Heat are playing the Charlotte Hornets in the first round of the 2026 NBA Play-In Tournament on Tuesday, April 14, on the road.
The Heat, like in the past few years, have been up and down this season and finished tenth in the Eastern Conference standings with a record of 43-39.
Miami has an uphill battle to even become the eighth seed and clinch an official playoff appearance, and that starts with their game against the Hornets.
Miami Heat Starting Lineup For Play-In Vs Hornets
GettyCHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – MARCH 06: LaMelo Ball #1 of the Charlotte Hornets knocks the ball away from Bam Adebayo #13 of the Miami Heat in the second half during their game at Spectrum Center on March 06, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Before the game, the Heat took to social media to announce their starting lineup against Charlotte on Tuesday night.
Tyler Herro, Davion Mitchell, Kel’el Ware, Andrew Wiggins, and Bam Adebayo all got the nod as starters by Eric Spoelstra and the coaching staff.
When healthy, this is a typical starting lineup Miami has used this season. Against a younger, less experienced Hornets team, the combination and playoff experience of guys like Herro, Wiggins, and Adebayo will be crucial in the must-win game.
Heat Injury Report
GettyMIAMI, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 08: Nikola Jović #5 of the Miami Heat cools down after beating the Portland Trail Blazers at Kaseya Center on November 08, 2025 in Miami, Florida.
In the lead-up to the Play-In game, the Heat also confirmed their injury report.
Miami has Nikola Jovic and Dru Smith listed as out. Jovic is dealing with a left ankle sprain, and Smith is dealing with right foot soreness.
Wiggins, Herro, Simone Fontecchio, Pelle Larsson, and Ware were all listed on the injury report before the contest but have all since been upgraded to available. For all of those players but Ware (illness), they were all facing lower-body injuries, so if Miami does advance, their injuries will be something to keep an eye on as their postseason run continues.
In what isn’t the best news for the Heat, the Hornets do not have any of their players listed on their injury report.
Miami Heat Uphill Battle In The Play-In Tournament
GettyPHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – MARCH 18: Bam Adebayo #13 of the Miami Heat and Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers speak after a game at the Wells Fargo Center on March 18, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
As the tenth seed in the East, the Heat have the toughest road ahead to get out of the Play-In Tournament and become the eighth seed in the conference to play the Detroit Pistons.
They’ll first face the Hornets in Charlotte, and with a win, they’ll play either the Orlando Magic or Philadelphia 76ers, whoever loses their game on Wednesday.
Regardless of who Miami would play out of those two, it would be on the road once again.
With a win in the second round of the Play-In, which remains a tough task, the Heat would then travel to Detroit for the first round of the playoffs. That game would be on Sunday, April 19.
Getting past the Play-In to then be the lowest seed in the East playoffs doesn’t bode well for Miami, but regardless of what happens, the team looks already to be planning for the future.
According to Shams Charania, Pat Riley has expressed interest in targeting a big name in free agency, whether it be Giannis Antetokounmpo or another NBA superstar. Still, that’s a discussion for down the road, whenever the Heat’s season comes to an end.
Shams:
“The Heat, Pat Riley, it’s clear around the NBA when I talk to rival executives: Pat Riley wants his whale, his shark, his tiger. They’ll be back in the Giannis hunt and then whatever star they can find that becomes available to see can we get that #1 guy”
For now, it’s the Play-In Tournament in front of Miami.
The Heat vs Hornets game tips off at 7:30 pm EST on Amazon Prime Video.
Eli Gregorski is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy Sports. He has years of sports writing experience covering the NBA, NFL, college football and basketball, international soccer, and Formula One. He graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder, where he was the assistant sports editor for the award-winning CU Independent student publication. More about Eli Gregorski
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