Trail Blazers and Hornets Secure Playoff Spots in Thrilling NBA Play-In Showdown
The Portland Trail Blazers clinched a playoff spot with a dramatic comeback victory over the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday, while the Charlotte Hornets advanced in the NBA's play-in tournament with a nail-biting overtime win against the Miami Heat. Key Highlights: Portland Trail Blazers won 114-110 against the Phoenix Suns. Charlotte Hornets triumphed 127-126 in overtime against the Miami Heat. In the Western Conference, the matchup between the seventh-ranked Suns and eighth-ranked Trail Blazers determined the No. 7 seed. The Blazers rallied from an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit, fueled by Deni Avdija’s stellar performance of 41 points and 12 assists, including a pivotal go-ahead three-pointer with 16.1 seconds left. Following a late surge by the Suns, who had taken a brief lead, Avdija secured the victory with a decisive layup and free throw, sealing their playoff fate against the San Antonio Spurs. In the Eastern Conference, the Hornets faced off against the Heat in a thrilling contest that saw LaMelo Ball score the winning layup with just 4.7 seconds remaining in overtime. Despite losing Bam Adebayo to injury early in the game, the Heat initially led until Coby White’s sharpshooting sparked a Hornets comeback. The game saw intense back-and-forth action, ultimately culminating in a last-second block by Miles Bridges to eliminate the Heat from the playoffs. Upcoming Matchups: Western Conference First Round: San Antonio Spurs (2) vs Portland Trail Blazers (7) Eastern Conference Play-In Tournament: Charlotte Hornets (9) will face the loser of the Philadelphia 76ers vs Orlando Magic matchup.
Source: Sky Sports - 2026-04-15