Hornets and Heat Face Off in NBA Play-In Tournament

Winner advances to play for 8th seed in Eastern Conference Playoffs

Apr. 14, 2026 at 6:03am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A cubist, geometric painting depicting a basketball game between the Charlotte Hornets and Miami Heat, with the players and court broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of vibrant teal, purple, and orange colors.The high-stakes NBA Play-In Tournament matchup between the Hornets and Heat promises an intense, fast-paced battle for a playoff spot.Today in Miami

The Charlotte Hornets and Miami Heat will square off in the NBA Playoffs Play-In Tournament, with the winner advancing to play for the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs. The Hornets are led by Kon Knueppel and LaMelo Ball, while the Heat feature Bam Adebayo and Andrew Wiggins. Both teams have been jockeying for playoff positioning in the final stretch of the regular season.

Why it matters

The NBA Play-In Tournament has become an exciting addition to the postseason, giving more teams a chance to compete for a playoff spot. This matchup between the Hornets and Heat features two talented squads looking to extend their seasons and potentially make a deep playoff run.

The details

The Hornets finished the regular season 44-38, good for ninth place in the Eastern Conference. They are led by Kon Knueppel, who is averaging 18.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game, and LaMelo Ball, who is putting up 22.5 points per game over his last 10 outings. The Heat, meanwhile, went 43-39 and landed in the 10th spot. They are paced by Bam Adebayo, who is averaging a double-double with 20.1 points and 10 rebounds per contest, and Andrew Wiggins, who has been knocking down 2.4 three-pointers per game over his last 10 appearances.

  • The Hornets and Heat will face off on Tuesday, April 14, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. EDT.
  • The winner of this Play-In Tournament game will advance to play for the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs.

The players

Kon Knueppel

The Hornets' leading scorer, averaging 18.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game.

LaMelo Ball

Charlotte's star point guard, putting up 22.5 points per game over his last 10 outings.

Bam Adebayo

Miami's anchor in the middle, averaging a double-double with 20.1 points and 10 rebounds per contest.

Andrew Wiggins

The Heat's sharpshooter, knocking down 2.4 three-pointers per game over his last 10 appearances.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We're excited for the opportunity to compete in the Play-In Tournament and try to earn a spot in the playoffs. It's going to be a tough battle against Miami, but we're ready for the challenge.”

— Kon Knueppel, Hornets Forward

“The Play-In Tournament has added a new level of excitement to the end of the season. We know we have our work cut out for us against Charlotte, but we're confident in our ability to come out on top and keep our season going.”

— Bam Adebayo, Heat Center

What’s next

The winner of the Hornets-Heat matchup will advance to play the team that finishes eighth in the Eastern Conference for the final playoff spot.

The takeaway

This Play-In Tournament game between the Hornets and Heat promises to be an exciting, high-stakes affair as both teams look to extend their seasons and compete for a spot in the Eastern Conference Playoffs.