The Charlotte Hornets punched their ticket to the next phase of the 2026 NBA Play-in Tournament. Meanwhile, LaMelo Ball literally landed punches after the Hornets’ thrilling 127-126 win over the Miami Heat at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., on Tuesday.
Amid the pandemonium on the court following Charlotte’s incredible win, Ball dapped up Hugo, the Hornets mascot.
However, Ball followed that up with punches to Hugo’s face and neck, causing the mascot to lose its balance before walking away, perhaps wondering what exactly he did to get two-pieced by the Hornets star.
Here’s the video of that moment, via Cam Gaskins of WBTV News.
Nah y'all please look at LaMelo Ball and Hugo after the win 😂 pic.twitter.com/U1vtKCsWu8
— Cam Gaskins (@CamGaskinsTV) April 15, 2026
Still, the biggest blow Ball landed on the night was his game-winning layup with 4.7 seconds left in overtime.
The Heat got the ball back after his bucket, but Miles Bridges swatted away Davion Mitchell’s layup attempt to preserve Charlotte’s lead and secure the win for the Hornets, who are just a win away from making the franchise’s first playoff appearance since 2016.
Ball finished the game with 30 points on 12/21 shooting, 10 assists, 5 rebounds, 1 steal and 1 block in 40 minutes. Bridges added 28 points, while Brandon Miller and Coby White had 23 and 19 points, respectively.
The Hornets will next face the winner of Wednesday’s battle between the Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic.
