The Portland Trail Blazers locked in a postseason slot on Tuesday after staging a dramatic comeback against the Phoenix Suns, while the Charlotte Hornets moved forward in the NBA play‑in tournament by edging the Miami Heat in an overtime showdown. In the Western Conference showdown, the seventh‑seeded Suns faced the eighth‑seeded Trail Blazers with the winner automatically claiming the No. 7 seed and a guaranteed place in the first round.
Portland emerged victorious, 114‑110, after erasing an 11‑point deficit in the final quarter. The loss sends Phoenix to a secondary play‑in game against either the ninth‑seeded Los Angeles Clippers or the tenth‑seeded Golden State Warriors for a chance to snag the No. 8 seed. The Eastern Conference play‑in also produced drama.
The Hornets, sitting ninth, will now meet the loser of the Philadelphia 76ers‑Orlando Magic matchup in the seventh‑versus‑eighth game, keeping their hopes alive for a full‑playoff berth. Portland’s Deni Avdija was the night’s standout, pouring in 41 points, including a clutch three‑pointer with 16.1 seconds left that put the Blazers ahead.
He also dished 12 assists and finished the game with a decisive layup and free‑throw that gave Portland a 112‑110 lead with just 32 seconds remaining. Jordan Goodwin tried to answer with a layup that nudged the Suns ahead 110‑109, but Avdija’s physical drive to the basket and subsequent free‑throw sealed the comeback. A final three‑point attempt by Jalen Green missed, and Goodwin’s offensive rebound was stripped by Matisse Thybulle, ending Phoenix’s chance to recover.
The victory grants Portland the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference and a first‑round matchup against the No.
2 seed San Antonio Spurs. The Blazers had entered the fourth quarter with an 83‑82 lead despite a poor three‑point shooting night (1‑of‑11 in the third). Phoenix briefly reclaimed the lead early in the fourth when Green hit a jumper, sparking an 11‑0 run that pushed the Suns ahead 93‑83.
A later steal and three‑pointer by Royce O'Neale extended the Suns’ advantage to 98‑87 with 7:13 left, but Portland responded with a relentless run that ultimately flipped the game. Meanwhile, the Hornets’ 127‑126 overtime win over Miami was highlighted by LaMelo Ball’s game‑winning layup with 4.7 seconds left in the extra period. The Heat lost Bam Adebayo early due to an injury that stemmed from a controversial incident involving Ball.
Early in the second quarter, Ball missed a drive, fell to the floor, and appeared to reach out with his left arm, catching Adebayo’s left leg and causing the big man to tumble. Although officials did not call a foul, Adebayo remained on the floor, later walking off under his own power and not returning to the game. Miami’s coach Erik Spoelstra publicly criticized the non‑call, suggesting Ball should have been ejected for the apparent tripping that led to Adebayo’s lower‑back injury. Despite the setback, the Heat fought back, with Andrew Wiggins hitting back‑to‑back threes in the fourth quarter to give Miami a brief lead before Coby White’s three‑pointer forced overtime.
In the extra period, Ball scored 30 points and delivered the decisive layup, later apologizing for his role in Adebayo’s injury and explaining he was disoriented after being struck in the head on a previous drive. Miles Bridges capped the Hornets’ victory with a buzzer‑beating block that eliminated the Heat from playoff contention. The 2026 NBA playoffs will commence on Sky Sports this Sunday, April 19, featuring four live games on Sky Sports Action starting at 6 p.m. BST.
The schedule includes: - 6 p.m.: Eastern No. 7 seed at Boston Celtics (2) - 8:30 p.m.: Western No. 8 seed at Oklahoma City Thunder (1) - 11 p.m.: Eastern No.
8 seed at Detroit Pistons (1) - 2 a.m.: Portland Trail Blazers (7) at San Antonio Spurs (2) Sky Sports will also broadcast every Western Conference Finals game live beginning May 20. The first‑round matchups are set as follows: - Oklahoma City Thunder (1) vs.
Western No. 8 seed (TBC) - San Antonio Spurs (2) vs.
Portland Trail Blazers (7) - Denver Nuggets (3) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (6) - Los Angeles Lakers (4) vs.
Houston Rockets (5) In the Eastern bracket, the line‑up includes: - Philadelphia 76ers (7) vs. Orlando Magic (8) - Charlotte Hornets (9) vs.
Miami Heat (10) - Winner of the 76ers‑Magic game vs. Hornets - Boston Celtics (2) vs. Western No.
7 seed (TBC) - Detroit Pistons (1) vs. Eastern No.
8 seed (TBC) - New York Knicks (3) vs. Atlanta Hawks (6) - Cleveland Cavaliers (4) vs. Toronto Raptors (5) Fans can watch the action live on Sky Sports or stream without a contract via the NOW platform.
The expanded coverage ensures that both casual viewers and die‑hard basketball enthusiasts can follow every pivotal moment as the 2026 NBA postseason unfolds.