Trail Blazers Secure NBA Playoff Berth as Hornets Outlast Heat in Thrilling Overtime Matchup

The Portland Trail Blazers have officially clinched a spot in the NBA playoffs following a dramatic comeback victory over the Phoenix Suns. Meanwhile, the Charlotte Hornets advanced in the play-in tournament with a nail-biting overtime win against the Miami Heat. The Trail Blazers' Deni Avdija played a pivotal role, scoring 41 points, including a decisive three-pointer with 16.1 seconds remaining, to seal a 114-110 win. As a result, the Trail Blazers have secured the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference and will face the No. 2 seed San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the playoffs. The Hornets, on the other hand, will proceed to the next round of the play-in tournament after outlasting the Heat 127-126 in overtime, with LaMelo Ball scoring the winning layup with 4.7 seconds left. The outcome of these games sets the stage for the 2026 NBA playoffs, which will commence on April 19, with Sky Sports broadcasting four live games, including the Trail Blazers' matchup against the Spurs.