Red-Hot Hornets Cool Off Heat in Play-In Victory | Real Ones

The Charlotte Hornets’ play-in victory over the Miami Heat and the Portland Trail Blazers’ win against the Phoenix Suns highlight a night of intense, high-stakes basketball. LaMelo Ball’s pivotal performance, despite a controversial incident involving Bam Adebayo, underscores the Hornets' maturation as a team capable of overcoming adversity and executing under pressure. Meanwhile, the Phoenix Suns face questions regarding their roster construction and the viability of their current core, while the Trail Blazers continue to exceed expectations under Tiago Splitter’s leadership, with Deni Avdija delivering a standout postseason-debut-level performance. The discussion also addresses the complexities of officiating, the subjective nature of "dirty" play in the modern NBA, and the evolving challenges of the Rookie of the Year voting process in an era of strict eligibility rules.