Amazon Prime's NBA Play-In Game Disruption Caused by Hardware Failure

Technical difficulties during crucial Heat-Hornets matchup left fans frustrated and missed key moments.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 1:36pm

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A fractured, geometric painting depicting a basketball game broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color, representing the disruption and fragmentation of the live broadcast.A cubist interpretation of the technical difficulties that disrupted a crucial NBA Play-In game, reflecting the fragmented viewing experience for fans.Charlotte Today

Amazon Prime experienced a technical disruption during its broadcast of the NBA Play-In Tournament game between the Miami Heat and Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday night. The feed cut out as the game resumed after a timeout, causing fans to miss 22.1 seconds of playing time and a Hornets possession. Amazon said the issue was caused by a 'hardware failure in our production truck' and that they are conducting an internal review to determine the cause.

Why it matters

The Heat-Hornets matchup was a crucial Play-In game with major postseason implications, and the technical difficulties left many fans frustrated at missing key moments of the close, overtime thriller. As the exclusive broadcaster of the NBA Play-In Tournament, Amazon Prime's ability to provide a seamless viewing experience is crucial to maintaining viewer engagement and satisfaction.

The details

The blackout lasted for nearly two minutes, during which time 22.1 seconds of game action and a Hornets possession were missed. A message saying 'technical difficulties' was displayed afterward, leaving viewers, including Lakers star LeBron James, wondering what had happened. The Hornets went on to win the game 127-126, eliminating the Heat from the postseason.

  • The technical difficulties occurred with 48.1 seconds remaining in overtime of the Heat-Hornets game on April 14, 2026.

The players

LaMelo Ball

Charlotte Hornets point guard who was involved in an incident that led to Miami's Bam Adebayo leaving the game with a lower back injury.

Bam Adebayo

Miami Heat star big man who left the game in the second quarter after being tripped by LaMelo Ball and did not return.

Erik Spoelstra

Miami Heat head coach who said in his post-game press conference that Ball should have been ejected for the incident with Adebayo.

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What they’re saying

“'The broadcast of the Miami Heat at Charlotte Hornets experienced a temporary disruption due to a hardware failure in our production truck. Our teams restored the feed as quickly as possible to ensure fans could watch the conclusion of the game. We are conducting a thorough internal review to determine the cause of the outage.'”

— Amazon spokesperson

“'Tell me the game didn't just cut off?!!? Am I trippin?? WTH'”

— LeBron James

“'It wasn't intentional and I'm going to check in on [Adebayo].'”

— LaMelo Ball

What’s next

Amazon has stated they are conducting a thorough internal review to determine the cause of the technical difficulties that disrupted the crucial NBA Play-In game. The results of this review and any steps taken to prevent future outages will be closely watched by both fans and the league.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the challenges of providing a seamless live sports viewing experience, even for a tech giant like Amazon. As the exclusive broadcaster of the NBA Play-In Tournament, Amazon must ensure its technical infrastructure is robust enough to handle the high-stakes, high-viewership nature of these games. Maintaining viewer trust and satisfaction will be crucial as Amazon seeks to expand its sports media portfolio.