NBA play-in predictions: Heat-Hornets? Trail Blazers-Suns? Our takes on who will advance

The 2026 NBA postseason is here! The play-in tournament tips off Tuesday with two high-stakes matchups.

In the East, a couple of Southeast Division rivals will face off in an elimination game, as the No. 9 seed Charlotte Hornets host the No. 10 seed Miami Heat. The winner will advance with a shot at earning the No. 8 seed on Friday against either the Philadelphia 76ers or Orlando Magic. The loser will go home.

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In the West, the No. 7 seed Phoenix Suns will host the No. 8 seed Portland Trail Blazers in a battle of teams that have exceeded expectations this season. The winner will earn the No. 7 seed in the playoffs and a first-round series with the San Antonio Spurs. The loser will have one last chance to earn a playoff berth on Friday in a matchup with either the LA Clippers or Golden State Warriors.

Who will advance on Tuesday? Our writers break down the matchups and make their picks.

What’s your take on Heat-Hornets?

Morten Stig Jensen: This will be an enormously difficult test for Miami. Both the Heat and Hornets are interesting offensive units, in the sense that Miami has been running like mad men all season, and the Hornets have become one of the most efficient 3-point shooting squads in all of basketball.

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That’s also where they differ. Miami is, at best, a mid-tier 3-point shooting team, and if you think the Heat can offset that by some elite conversion rate by their primary big man, Bam Adebayo, think again. Adebayo hit just 44.2% of his total shots this season, leaving little avenue for the Heat to gain an offensive advantage elsewhere on the floor.

If they get into a running game with the Hornets, that might not work to their benefit, which further underlines the need for Miami to go back to what it’s mostly known for: Gritty defense. However, that hasn’t been as staple of a calling card as in the past.

Kelly Iko: It’s a pleasant surprise that a play-in game could produce such a high-level coaching matchup. The Charles Lee-Erik Spoelstra tactical battle is as tantalizing as I’ve seen in quite some time at this early juncture.

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This game simply boils down to…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/article/nba-play-in-predictions-heat-hornets-trail-blazers-suns-our-takes-on-who-will-advance-022657209.html

Author : Yahoo Sports Staff

Publish date : 2026-04-14 02:26:00

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