The Charlotte Hornets held off the Miami Heat 127-126 in a tight clash, eliminating them from the playoffs on Tuesday night.
LaMelo Ball hit a clutch layup with 4.7 seconds left in overtime, followed by a block on the defensive end by Miles Bridges on Davion Mitchell’s attempt at a winning layup.
Ball dropped 30 points, and 10 assists, and Bridges had 28 points and nine rebounds as the Hornets won their first postseason home game in a decade.
Coby White added 19 points, including a turnaround triple with 10.8 seconds left in regulation, to send the game in OT.
On the other hand, Mitchell led the Heat with 28 points, and Andrew Wiggins scored 27, as they lost Bam Adebayo due to a lower back injury when Ball tripped him in the second.
Tyler Herro added 23 points for the Heat, twisted a corner triple, and Ball turned the ball over in the backcourt and fouled Herro on a three-point shot.
Herro sank all three free throws to give Miami a 126-125 lead with 8.7 seconds left.
Although Adebayo has been sidelined, the Heat remained in control until late in the third, but Charlotte hit two triples as part of their 10-0 run.
White dropped another triple in the closing of the third to give them an 89-83 lead.
Miami built a 102-95 lead in the fourth behind two triples from Wiggins, and Herro had a chance to win it in regulation, but fell short.
The Hornets look forward to their first playoff appearance in a decade.
