Amazon Prime Video stream fails during crucial overtime moments of Heat-Hornets playoff game
Technical difficulties - Amazon Prime Video's exclusive broadcast of the Miami-Charlotte play-in game suffered a nearly two-minute outage during overtime, forcing fans to miss key scoring plays as hardware failure disrupted the streaming service's NBA coverage.
Feb 5, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; An NBA on Amazon Prime cameraman during the Golden State Warriors game against the Phoenix Suns at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Amazon Prime Video experienced a significant technical malfunction during one of the most critical moments of the Miami–Charlotte play-in game, leaving basketball fans across the nation staring at error messages instead of playoff action. The streaming outage occurred in overtime with just 48.1 seconds remaining, creating frustration among viewers who had tuned in for the high-stakes matchup.
The broadcast interruption began while analyst Stan Van Gundy was speaking coming out of a timeout, with both audio and video feeds suddenly cutting to black. Within seconds, a « technical difficulties » message appeared on screens, replacing what should have been intense playoff basketball with an apologetic notification.
Missing the action in crunch time
When the stream finally resumed, fans discovered they had missed a crucial sequence that saw Charlotte’s LaMelo Ball extend the Hornets’ lead to 125-120. The outage lasted nearly two minutes, during which viewers missed 22.1 seconds of actual playing time – an eternity in a tight overtime period where every possession matters.
The technical failure immediately sparked reactions across social media, with « technical difficulties » trending nationally as frustrated fans vented their disappointment. Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James captured the sentiment of many viewers, posting on X: « 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
Charlotte ultimately secured a 127-126 victory in the thrilling contest, but the streaming issues overshadowed what should have been a celebration of Prime Video‘s exclusive playoff coverage. The incident highlighted the risks associated with streaming-only broadcasts of major sporting events, particularly during crucial moments when reliability becomes paramount.
Amazon addresses the malfunction
A Prime Video spokesperson later explained that the disruption stemmed from « a hardware failure in our production truck, » acknowledging the technical nature of the problem that affected their broadcast infrastructure. The company emphasized their efforts to restore service quickly, stating: « Our teams restored the feed as quickly as possible to ensure fans could watch the conclusion of the game. »
The streaming service also announced plans for a comprehensive investigation, with the spokesperson adding: « We are conducting a thorough internal review to determine the cause of the outage. » This incident comes as Prime Video holds exclusive rights to all six games in this year’s play-in tournament, marking a significant responsibility as part of the NBA‘s new 11-year, $76 billion media rights deal.
The malfunction represents a challenging moment for Amazon‘s expanding sports broadcasting ambitions, demonstrating the technical demands of live sports coverage and the immediate scrutiny that comes with exclusive playoff content.
Sylvain Sultat follows the NBA on a daily basis, covering individual performances, team dynamics, and the league's greatest stories. On Be-Basketball, he breaks down the latest American basketball news with passion and consistency, always on the lookout for the trends shaping the world of basketball.
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