The Portland Trail Blazers locked in a postseason slot on Tuesday after staging a dramatic comeback against the Phoenix Suns, while the Charlotte Hornets advanced in the NBA play‑in tournament by surviving an overtime showdown with the Miami Heat. In the Western Conference showdown, the seventh‑seeded Suns faced the eighth‑seeded Trail Blazers, with the victor automatically claiming the No. 7 seed and a guaranteed place in the playoffs.
Portland emerged victorious, turning an 11‑point deficit in the fourth quarter into a 114‑110 win, thereby earning the No. 7 seed and a first‑round matchup against the No. 2 seeded San Antonio Spurs. Phoenix’s loss sends them to the play‑in round where they will meet either the ninth‑seeded Los Angeles Clippers or the tenth‑seeded Golden State Warriors for a final opportunity to capture the No.
8 seed. Meanwhile, in the East, the Hornets, who sit at ninth, will next confront the loser of the Philadelphia 76ers‑Orlando Magic game in the seventh‑versus‑eighth play‑in contest. Portland’s hero of the night was Deni Avdija, who poured in 41 points, including a decisive three‑pointer with 16.1 seconds left in regulation.
Avdija also dished out 12 assists and finished with a crucial layup and free throw that pushed the Blazers ahead 112‑110 after a Jordan Goodwin layup had given the Suns a fleeting 110‑109 lead with 32 seconds remaining. A missed three‑pointer by Jalen Green and a turnover forced by Matisse Thybulle sealed the win for Portland.
The Blazers entered the fourth quarter holding an 83‑82 edge despite a dismal three‑point shooting night (1‑of‑11). Phoenix answered with a quick 11‑0 run, highlighted by Green’s early jumper, to seize a 93‑83 lead.
Later, Royce O’Neale’s steal and three‑point bomb extended the Suns’ advantage to 98‑87 with just over seven minutes left. At that point, Portland ignited a comeback that would ultimately flip the game. Over in the Eastern Conference, Charlotte’s 127‑126 overtime victory over Miami was capped by a clutch layup from LaMelo Ball with 4.7 seconds remaining in the extra period.
The Hornets had to overcome the loss of Miami’s star center Bam Adebayo, who exited early after a controversial incident involving Ball. Adebayo suffered a lower‑back injury after Ball appeared to grab his left leg while attempting a drive, a foul that was not called by officials. Adebayo managed to walk off the court unaided but did not return, prompting Heat coach Erik Spoelstra to argue that Ball should have been ejected. Despite the setback, the Heat fought back in the fourth quarter, with Andrew Wiggins hitting back‑to‑back threes to give Miami a brief lead before Coby White’s three‑point barrage forced overtime.
In the extra session, Ball delivered 30 points and the game‑winning layup, later apologizing for his role in Adebayo’s injury and claiming he was disoriented after being struck on the head earlier in the quarter. Miles Bridges finished the contest with a decisive block at the buzzer, cementing Charlotte’s advancement and eliminating Miami from postseason contention.
The 2026 NBA playoffs kick off on Sky Sports this Sunday, April 19, featuring four live games on Sky Sports Action beginning at 6 p.m. British Summer Time (BST). The schedule includes: 6 p.m.
– Eastern Conference No. 7 seed vs. Boston Celtics (No.
2) 8:30 p.m. – Western Conference No. 8 seed vs.
Oklahoma City Thunder (No. 1) 11 p.m. – Eastern Conference No. 8 seed vs.
Detroit Pistons (No. 1) 2 a.m. – Portland Trail Blazers (No. 7) vs.
San Antonio Spurs (No. 2) Sky Sports will also broadcast all Western Conference Finals live starting May 20. The first‑round bracket looks as follows: Western Conference: - (1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) TBD - (2) San Antonio Spurs vs.
(7) Portland Trail Blazers - (3) Denver Nuggets vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves - (4) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (5) Houston Rockets Eastern Conference: - (1) Detroit Pistons vs. (8) TBD - (2) Boston Celtics vs.
(7) TBD - (3) New York Knicks vs. (6) Atlanta Hawks - (4) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (5) Toronto Raptors Play‑in matchups include: - (7) Phoenix Suns vs. (8) Portland Trail Blazers (already decided) - (9) Los Angeles Clippers vs.
(10) Golden State Warriors (to determine the final West seed) - (7) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (8) Orlando Magic - (9) Charlotte Hornets vs.
(10) Miami Heat (already decided) - The loser of the Hornets‑Heat game will face the winner of the 76ers‑Magic contest for the final Eastern seed. Fans can watch the action live on Sky Sports, subscribe to the channel, or stream without a contract via the NOW platform. The expanded coverage ensures that viewers across the UK can follow every pivotal moment, from the opening round through to the championship series, with expert commentary, in‑depth analysis, and real‑time statistics enhancing the viewing experience.