In the NBA Play-In Tournament, the Charlotte Hornets will host the Miami Heat at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Hornets, currently the No. 9 seed in the Eastern Conference, have been on a roll with an 18-9 record since the All-Star break. LaMelo Ball has been pivotal to this success, averaging over 7 assists per game, and is projected to surpass 7.5 assists in this matchup. In their last encounter on March 17, Ball recorded 13 assists in a commanding victory over the Heat, showcasing his ability to exploit defensive weaknesses. The Hornets have also benefited from the scoring prowess of rookie Kon Knueppel, who has consistently performed well against Miami, averaging 19-30 points in their previous matchups. The Heat, on the other hand, have struggled defensively, ranking 28th in defensive rating over their last 15 games, allowing an average of 127.5 points per game. With the Hornets favored by 5.5 points, they are expected to leverage their strong home performance to advance in the tournament.