NBA Playoff Spot Secured by Trail Blazers as Hornets Advance in Play-in Tournament

The Portland Trail Blazers have secured a spot in the NBA playoffs with a thrilling comeback victory over the Phoenix Suns, while the Charlotte Hornets have advanced in the play-in tournament with an overtime win against the Miami Heat. The Trail Blazers' Deni Avdija scored 41 points, including a decisive three-pointer, to seal a 114-110 win and claim the No 7 seed in the Western Conference. The Hornets, meanwhile, overcame the loss of Miami's Bam Adebayo to injury and edged out the Heat 127-126 in overtime, with LaMelo Ball scoring the winning layup with 4.7 seconds remaining. The Trail Blazers will face the San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the playoffs, while the Hornets will play the loser of the Philadelphia 76ers' meeting with the Orlando Magic.