Hornets Coach Praises Team's 'Togetherness' in Play-In Win Over Heat

Charlotte overcame a rollercoaster game to advance in the NBA Play-In Tournament

Apr. 15, 2026 at 4:52pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a basketball game or match, with sharp, overlapping planes of teal, purple, and red representing the action on the court.The Hornets' thrilling overtime victory over the Heat showcases the team's resilience and unity as they push towards the playoffs.Charlotte Today

Hornets head coach Charles Lee praised his team's character and togetherness following their 127-126 overtime win over the Miami Heat in the NBA Play-In Tournament. Lee highlighted the Hornets' ability to respond and execute when it mattered most, despite an up-and-down performance. Forward Miles Bridges echoed Lee's sentiments, saying the team stayed together throughout the game's ups and downs. The win in front of a record-setting crowd at Spectrum Center has the Hornets one victory away from advancing to the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Why it matters

The Hornets' victory over the Heat showcases the team's growth and maturity this season, improving from a 19-63 record last year to 44-38 and earning a Play-In Tournament berth. Their ability to rally together and execute in crunch time demonstrates the team's strong chemistry and resilience, which will be crucial as they look to advance further in the postseason.

The details

In a back-and-forth game that featured 16 lead changes and an overtime finish, the Hornets were able to pull out the victory over the Heat. Coach Lee praised his team's execution on key plays down the stretch, as well as their competitive spirit and togetherness in overcoming the game's ups and downs. Forward Miles Bridges echoed Lee's sentiments, saying the team stayed united despite the rollercoaster nature of the contest.

  • The Hornets' 127-126 overtime win over the Heat took place on Tuesday, April 15, 2026.
  • The Hornets will next face the winner of Wednesday's Play-In game between the Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic, with tip-off scheduled for approximately 7:30 p.m. ET on Thursday.

The players

Charles Lee

The head coach of the Charlotte Hornets, who praised his team's character and togetherness following their Play-In Tournament win over the Miami Heat.

Miles Bridges

A forward for the Charlotte Hornets, who echoed Coach Lee's sentiments about the team's unity and resilience during the victory over the Heat.

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What they’re saying

“It just shows the character of the team. I think at the end of the day, execution is not always going to be perfect, but I think that these guys find a way to stick with it and not give in sometimes when things aren't going well or not going your way, I think that's where I see the most growth and maturity from our group is just finding a way to respond.”

— Charles Lee, Hornets Head Coach

“We just stayed together throughout it all. It was an up-and-down game, but that's what the Play-In is about. For us, just to get a win like that... we're just happy to win. We want to continue to win; we've got one more until we can get to the playoffs, so we're trying to lock in on that.”

— Miles Bridges, Hornets Forward

What’s next

The Hornets will travel to face the winner of Wednesday's Play-In game between the Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic. The game will tip off at approximately 7:30 p.m. ET on Thursday and will also be streamed on Prime Video. Charlotte is 3-1 against Orlando this season and 1-2 against Philadelphia.

The takeaway

The Hornets' gutsy overtime victory over the Heat in the NBA Play-In Tournament showcases the team's growth and maturity this season. Their ability to rally together and execute in crunch time, despite an up-and-down performance, demonstrates the strong chemistry and resilience that will be crucial as they look to advance further in the postseason.