Portland Trail Blazers Secure NBA Playoff Berth as Hornets Edge Heat in Overtime Thriller

The Portland Trail Blazers have booked their spot in the NBA playoffs with a comeback victory over the Phoenix Suns, while the Charlotte Hornets advanced in the play-in tournament by defeating the Miami Heat in a nail-biting overtime contest. The Blazers' win guaranteed them the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference, setting up a first-round matchup against the No. 2 seed San Antonio Spurs. Deni Avdija led the charge for Portland, scoring 41 points, including a crucial three-pointer with 16.1 seconds left, to overcome an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter. The Suns will now face either the Los Angeles Clippers or the Golden State Warriors for a final chance to secure the No. 8 seed. In the Eastern Conference, the Hornets will next play the loser of the Philadelphia 76ers' game against the Orlando Magic. LaMelo Ball scored the winning layup with 4.7 seconds remaining in overtime to seal the Hornets' win. The 2026 NBA playoffs are set to begin on Sky Sports this Sunday, with four live games scheduled, including the Trail Blazers' matchup against the Spurs.