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Heat vs. Hornets prediction: Why Charlotte is favored to win Tuesday's NBA Play-In matchup [4/14/2026]
Updated: | First published:
Written by Dave Garofolo, Content Producer
Get Miami Heat vs Charlotte Hornets predictions for NBA Tuesday.
The Charlotte Hornets and Miami Heat will meet in the 2026 NBA Play-In Tournament at Spectrum Center on Tuesday, starting at 7:30 PM ET.
Based on updated simulations and today’s injury reports, Dimers' proven NBA model predicts the Hornets as the most likely winner of the Heat vs. Hornets game.
This prediction follows the latest NBA Injury Report, which suggests the Hornets lineup will feature players like LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel, while the Heat will rely on Tyler Herro, Bam Adebayo and Norman Powell.
This article offers an expanded analysis of Tuesday's matchup, including an expanded look at the predicted score, best bets and player prop picks.
Heat vs. Hornets prediction: Who will win NBA Play-In game?
Using trusted machine learning and statistical analysis, we have simulated the result of Tuesday's NBA game between the Heat and Hornets, forming part of our NBA predictions coverage.
Our famous predictive model currently gives the Hornets a 67% chance of beating the Heat. Our predicted final score has the Hornets winning 117-112.
According to our model, the Heat (+5.5) have a 53% chance of covering the spread, while the 230.5-point over/under has an equal 50-50 chance of hitting.
Heat vs. Hornets odds
We have researched the best NBA odds in America for this game, which are listed here:
| Bet Type | Heat | Hornets |
|---|---|---|
| Spread | +5.5 (-102) | -5.5 (-115) |
| Moneyline | +200 | -230 |
| Total | o230.5 (-105) | u230.5 (-108) |
All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.
Heat vs. Hornets picks and best bet
After matching our predictions against the best available odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:
| Bet Type | Pick | Bet Now |
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Heat +5.5 | -102 |
| Moneyline | Heat | +200 |
| Total | Over 230.5 | -105 |
According to our best NBA bets for Tuesday, the top play to make on this game is Heat +5.5 at the spread.
These picks are based on our probabilities matched against the implied probabilities from the sportsbook odds.
Heat vs. Hornets player props
Looking for Heat vs. Hornets NBA player props? We use the best information available to project how each team's leading players will perform at Spectrum Center.
Tyler Herro is expected to lead the Heat with 21 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists, while LaMelo Ball is projected to have 24 points, 6 rebounds and 8 assists for the Hornets.
Check out our NBA player projections for a full range of projected box scores, including points, assists, rebounds and today's NBA first basket picks.
Heat prediction
Our model's projected player stats for the Heat are:
| Player | PTS | REB | AST | 3PM | DFS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tyler Herro | 21 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 39 |
| Bam Adebayo | 20 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 42 |
| Norman Powell | 18 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 30 |
| Andrew Wiggins | 15 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 31 |
| Jaime Jaquez | 14 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 27 |
Hornets prediction
Projected points, rebounds, assists and three-pointers made for the Hornets:
| Player | PTS | REB | AST | 3PM | DFS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LaMelo Ball | 24 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 51 |
| Brandon Miller | 23 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 41 |
| Kon Knueppel | 21 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 38 |
| Miles Bridges | 17 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 33 |
| Coby White | 13 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 24 |
Heat vs. Hornets game-day updates and essential details
Tuesday's action between the Hornets and Heat at Spectrum Center is scheduled to commence at 7:30 PM ET.
- Who: Miami Heat vs. Charlotte Hornets
- Date: Tuesday, April 14, 2026
- Time: 7:30 PM ET/4:30PM PT
- Venue: Spectrum Center
The NBA Play-In Tournament involves the teams that ranked 7th through 10th in each conference, including the Heat and Hornets, fighting for a spot in the 2026 NBA Playoffs.
The winner of the Miami vs. Charlotte matchup will advance to NBA_2025_176_CHA_MIA.
Conclusion
We predict the Hornets, with a 67% win probability, will likely beat the Heat in Tuesday's NBA Play-In Tournament matchup.
Additional tools and information for betting safely can be found in our Responsible Gambling hub.
Dave Garofolo uses sophisticated AI-driven analytics to make predictions and evaluate player performances in the NBA, MLB, NFL, NHL, NCAAM, and PGA TOUR tournaments, crafting insightful game and prop previews.
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