The Eastern Conference play-in clash between the Miami Heat and Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center in Charlotte delivered a thriller, only for viewers to lose access at the worst possible moment.
After four tightly contested quarters, the game was locked at 114-114, forcing overtime. With tension at its peak, Prime Video’s stream suddenly went out, leaving the NBA world scrambling with no alternative way to watch.
Heat-Hornets Cuts Off in Overtime, Sparking Backlash From LeBron James and Co.
Amazon Prime Video was exclusively streaming the game (in what was already a controversial move that earned criticism from Mike Breen earlier in the week), so there was no way to watch the contest when it cut out.
Polymarket Sports captured the situation: “JUST IN: Amazon Prime has gone OUT in the middle of overtime between Heat and Hornets. There is no alternative way to watch the game as the NBA removed the right of local broadcasters to stream playoff games.”
The reaction was instant, led by Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James, who posted, “Tell me the game didn’t just cut off?!!? Am I trippin?? WTH 🤦🏾♂️”
Tell me the game didn’t just cut off?!!? Am I trippin?? WTH 🤦🏾♂️
— LeBron James (@KingJames) April 15, 2026
With no local broadcasts allowed under the NBA’s new media rights deal, fans were left in the dark as Charlotte defeated Miami in overtime to win 127-126.
The reaction did not stop with King James. Frustrated over the untimely outage, reporters, NBA analysts, and podcast hosts quickly weighed in with their sharp take on both the timing and the lack of alternatives.
Legion Hoops leaned on James’ tweet writing, “Amazon fixed it instantly once LeBron tweeted. Respect.”
Amazon fixed it instantly once LeBron tweeted. Respect.
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) April 15, 2026
Senior national political reporter Sahil Kapur pointed to the irony of the situation, writing, “The most thrilling NBA play-in game, with Amazon Prime briefly cutting off with ‘technical difficulties’ in the dying seconds of overtime.”
The most thrilling NBA play-in game, with Amazon Prime briefly cutting off with “technical difficulties” in the dying seconds of overtime. https://t.co/uUlLr0M1bb
— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) April 15, 2026
Locked On Pistons podcast host Ku Khahil did not hold back, posting, “Prime just lost their partnership moving forward, damn.”
Fox Sports Radio co-host Mark Gunnels kept it blunt with, “Amazon is cooked.”
Amazon is cooked. https://t.co/G8dxjKCThn
— Mark Gunnels (@MarkAGunnels) April 15, 2026
Likewise NBA analyst Bill Simmons added his own dramatic take, writing: “Amazon Prime with the mass murder!!!!!”
Amazon Prime with the mass murder!!!!!
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) April 15, 2026
Another widely shared post from the @adminInHTownTX page highlighted additional issues beyond the outage, noting, “Not only did Amazon have ‘Technical Difficulties’ at the end of a tightly contested play-in game that was in OT, but they also screwed up the graphics and showed Miami with a timeout remaining when they didn’t actually have any. Amateur hour all around.”
The frustration was amplified by the broader context. Under the NBA’s new 11-year, $76 billion media rights deal with ESPN, NBC Sports and Amazon, local broadcasters are no longer allowed to simulcast playoff games, which was already a sore sport for many fans even before this glitch caused them to miss overtime with zero alternatives.
In previous years, regional sports networks such as FanDuel Sports Network could step in during moments like this. Now, there was nothing but a blank screen during overtime of a one-point game.
LaMelo Ball scored a layup with 4.7 seconds left, and Miles Bridges blocked Davion Mitchell at the buzzer to seal a 127-126 win for the Hornets, eliminating the Heat from playoff race.
In the end, the outage narrowly avoided becoming even bigger. Had the stream gone down just moments later, viewers could have missed the game-winning plays instead, which would’ve led to an even harsher reaction.
