LaMelo Ball and Charlotte Hornets Eye First Playoff Berth Since 2016 in High-Stakes Play-In Opener

The NBA Play-In Tournament returns for its 2026 edition with a twist: for the first time in league history, every game will stream exclusively on Prime Video. That new era begins Tuesday night when the Charlotte Hornets host the Miami Heat at Spectrum Center, with a playoff berth hanging in the balance for both franchises.

Charlotte enters the game riding the momentum of a 2025-2026 campaign that saw the Hornets connect on 37.9% of their three-point attempts, the third-best mark in the entire league. That shooting prowess will need to be on full display against a Miami team with everything to play for.

Leading the Hornets charge is star guard LaMelo Ball, who has elevated his game to new heights this season. Ball will look to guide Charlotte to its first playoff appearance since 2016, when the franchise last qualified for the postseason. Standing across the way is Bam Adebayo, the NBA s second-highest individual game scorer this season, and a Heat roster determined to extend a remarkable streak. Miami has participated in four consecutive Play-In Tournaments and has never failed to qualify for the full playoffs after taking part.

Rookie Kon Knueppel has been a revelation for the Hornets, emerging as one of the league s premier three-point shooters during his first professional season. Alongside veterans Miles Bridges and Brandon Miller, the young core gives Charlotte a dangerous combination of youth and firepower. If those perimeter shots are falling, the Hornets could present a genuine first-round threat to whichever team emerges from the Eastern Conference bracket.

Miami, meanwhile, welcomes back guard Tyler Herro after missing significant time this season. His return adds crucial depth and offensive creation alongside Adebayo. The supporting cast includes the steadily improving third-year player Jaime Jaquez Jr., along with Norman Powell and Andrew Wiggins, giving the Heat a versatile rotation built for this moment.

The Heat hold the head-to-head edge this season, winning three of four meetings against Charlotte. Notably, this marks the first playoff collision between the two franchises since the opening round of the 2016 postseason, when Miami prevailed in seven hard-fought games.

Tuesday s tip is set for 7:30 p.m. ET. The winner advances to face the loser of Wednesday s Philadelphia-Magic Play-In matchup, with the stakes only escalating from here.