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 eking out an overtime victory over the Miami Heat. Both games featured clutch performances, strategic adjustments, and moments that will be remembered by fans of each franchise. 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 of the playoffs.
Portland emerged victorious, 114‑110, after erasing an 11‑point deficit in the final quarter. The win not only secured the Blazers’ spot as the West’s seventh seed but also set up a first‑round matchup against the No.
2 seed San Antonio Spurs. Deni Avdija was the catalyst for Portland’s rally. He poured in 41 points, including a decisive three‑pointer with just 16.1 seconds left in regulation that gave the Blazers a two‑point edge.
Avdija also dished out 12 assists and displayed physicality on the boards, finishing the night with a crucial layup, a drawn foul and the ensuing free‑throw that pushed the lead to 112‑110. When the Suns attempted a final answer, Jalen Green’s three‑point try missed, and although Jordan Goodwin secured an offensive rebound, he was stripped by Matisse Thybulle, sealing the win for Portland.
The Suns, now relegated to the play‑in bracket, will face either the ninth‑seeded Los Angeles Clippers or the tenth‑seeded Golden State Warriors for a chance to claim the No. 8 seed. Their loss highlighted some early‑quarter shooting woes – Portland shot a dismal 1‑of‑11 from beyond the arc in the third period – but the Blazers’ resilience in the fourth, highlighted by a 21‑point surge, turned the tide.
Key moments of the game included Phoenix taking a brief lead early in the fourth when Jalen Green knocked down a jumper, sparking an 11‑0 run that gave the Suns a 93‑83 advantage. Royce O'Neale’s subsequent steal and three‑pointer extended that lead to 98‑87 with just over seven minutes remaining. However, Portland answered with a series of quick baskets, defensive stops, and Avdija’s scoring burst, ultimately outscoring the Suns 27‑13 in the final period.
Meanwhile, in the Eastern Conference play‑in, the ninth‑seeded Hornets faced the tenth‑seeded Heat. The contest stretched into overtime, with Charlotte prevailing 127‑126 thanks to a clutch layup by LaMelo Ball with 4.7 seconds left in the extra period. The win advanced the Hornets to the next round, where they will meet the loser of the Philadelphia 76ers versus Orlando Magic game in the seventh‑versus‑eighth play‑in matchup.
Miami’s night was marred by an early injury to Bam Adebayo, who exited after a controversial incident involving Ball. Adebayo had been knocked to the floor when Ball, attempting a drive, appeared to reach out and snag the big man’s left leg, causing him to fall. The Heat’s coach, Erik Spoelstra, argued that Ball should have been ejected for the contact, which resulted in a lower‑back injury that forced Adebayo to leave the game. Despite the setback, the Heat fought back, with Andrew Wiggins delivering back‑to‑back three‑pointers in the fourth quarter to retake the lead, and Coby White hitting a series of triples in the third to spark a Charlotte comeback.
The overtime period was a see‑saw battle. After White tied the game with a late jumper, the Hornets responded with Ball’s go‑ahead layup, followed by a decisive block from Miles Bridges at the buzzer that secured the victory and eliminated the Heat from playoff contention. Beyond the immediate results, the games set the stage for the upcoming 2026 NBA playoffs, which will debut on Sky Sports this Sunday, April 19.
The schedule lists four live games on Sky Sports Action, starting at 6 p.m. BST, with the Trail Blazers slated to open their first‑round series against the Spurs at 2 a.m.
BST. The Western Conference Finals will also be broadcast live from May 20 onward.
Looking ahead, the Trail Blazers will aim to capitalize on their momentum against a seasoned Spurs squad. Portland’s balanced attack—highlighted by Avdija’s scoring and playmaking, as well as contributions from veterans like Jusuf Nurkić and Damian Lillard—will be tested by San Antonio’s disciplined defense and veteran leadership.
For the Hornets, the next hurdle will be the winner of the 76ers‑Magic play‑in game, a contest that could pit Charlotte against a Philadelphia team featuring Joel Embiid and James Harden or an Orlando squad led by Franz Wagner. Both franchises now have a clear path: Portland must maintain its late‑game composure, while Charlotte seeks to build on its resilience and avoid the pitfalls that cost Miami dearly. Fans can look forward to high‑stakes basketball, intense matchups, and the inevitable drama that defines the NBA postseason.