The Charlotte Hornets will take on the Miami Heat in the first game of the 2026 NBA Play-In Tournament on April 14 at 7:30 p.m. ET. This matchup marks a significant moment for the Hornets, who are looking to secure their first playoff berth since 2016. Star player LaMelo Ball will be pivotal for Charlotte, alongside rookie Kon Knueppel, known for his exceptional three-point shooting. The Hornets finished the season with a 37.9% success rate from beyond the arc, ranking third in the league. Meanwhile, the Miami Heat, led by Bam Adebayo, who is the league's second-highest scorer, aim to extend their streak of playoff qualifications through the play-in format. The Heat have successfully made the playoffs after every previous play-in tournament appearance. This game will be streamed exclusively on Amazon Prime Video, marking a shift to a streaming-only format for the entire tournament. The teams have met four times this season, with Miami winning three matchups, and this will be their first playoff meeting since the 2016 Playoffs.