Trail Blazers Secure NBA Playoff Berth as Hornets Advance in Play-in Tournament

The Portland Trail Blazers have locked in their spot in the NBA playoffs with a comeback win over the Phoenix Suns, while the Charlotte Hornets have progressed in the play-in tournament with a thrilling overtime victory against the Miami Heat. The Trail Blazers' win, led by Deni Avdija's 41 points, including a decisive three-pointer, secured the seventh seed in the Western Conference. They will face the San Antonio Spurs in the first round. The Hornets, meanwhile, will proceed to the next round of the play-in tournament after LaMelo Ball scored the winning layup with 4.7 seconds left in overtime, eliminating the Heat from the playoffs. The 2026 NBA playoffs will commence on April 19, with four live games on Sky Sports Action.