No. 9 seed
Charlotte hosts
The Hornets are listed as the No. 9 seed, so the game is in Charlotte at Spectrum Center.
Format notes
What the 9-vs-10 game means
The Heat-Hornets matchup is listed as the East 9-vs-10 Play-In game. That means the stakes are direct: the loser is eliminated, and the winner advances to play again for a playoff spot.
No. 10 seed
Miami travels
The Heat are listed as the No. 10 seed, so their path begins on the road with no room for a loss.
Winner
Still alive
The winner does not automatically enter the first round from this game. It keeps playing in the Play-In path.
Loser
Season over
The loser is eliminated from playoff contention, which is why the game should carry heavier late-game pressure.