Ball hero and villain as Hornets sting Heat, Blazers eclipse Suns
LaMelo Ball drives to the basket in Charlotte's play-in tournament win over Miami (Jacob Kupferman) LaMelo Ball was hero and villain as the Charlotte Hornets sent the Miami Heat tumbling out of the NBA play-in tournament with a thrilling 127-126 overtime victory on Tuesday. Charlotte had never won a win-or-go-home postseason game in 12 previous attempts and looked in danger of extending that record after blowing a 125-120 lead with 26 seconds remaining to allow Miami to edge ahead 126-125. After Miami star Tyler Herro sank a superb corner three-pointer to make it 125-123, Ball carelessly turned over possession and then gave away three free-throws with a rash lunge on Herro.
Herro drained all three shots to give Miami the lead with just nine seconds left. Ball though made amends with a determined driving layup to make it 127-126 before an athletic block from Miles Bridges snuffed out Miami's last-gasp attempt to win it. "We stuck with it and ground it out," Ball said.
"We wasn't hitting our threes, all the shots weren't hitting, but we stuck with it. " Ball was at the centre of controversy over an incident in the second quarter which led to Miami star Bam Adebayo hobbling out of the game. After being blocked during a drive to the basket, Ball reached out and tripped Adebayo with a tug on his standing leg, sending the Miami star crashing to the hardwood.
He played no further part in the game. Miami coach Erik Spoelstra was furious that Ball escaped an ejection. "The referees are there for what?
How did they not see that? I don't want this to be an excuse, Charlotte was incredible at the end," Spoelstra fumed. "I don't think that's cute.