The NBA play-in tournament has arrived with games tipping off Tuesday.
First, the Miami Heat and Charlotte Hornets faced off in the Eastern Conference’s 9-10 matchup. Charlotte came out on top 127-126, and it will play the loser of Wednesday’s 7-8 game between the Orlando Magic and Philadelphia 76ers for the No. 8 seed in the playoffs.
It seemed as if the Heat were in prime position for a victory, up four points with 28 seconds left in regulation. Following a Brandon Miller 3-pointer to make it a one-point game, Tyler Herro hit two free throws to extend the lead. However, Charlotte forced overtime after Coby White hit a fadeaway 3-pointer to tie the score and Herro missed a 3-pointer.
Miami had another chance to win in overtime, going up by one with 8.7 seconds left. But Charlotte guard LaMelo Ball attacked the basket for a layup and Miami’s ensuing chance to win was blocked.
Ball led the all scorers with 30 points, while Miles Bridges added 28 for the Hornets. Davion Mitchell registered a team-high 28 points for the Heat, and Andrew Wiggins had 27.
The Portland Trail Blazers and Phoenix Suns closed out the night in a Western Conference 7-8 battle. The winner will play the No. 2 seed San Antonio Spurs in the first round, while the loser will face either the LA Clippers or the Golden State Warriors in the second game of the play-in.
In the West, Phoenix returned to the play-in after a 45-win bounce-back campaign, taking the regular-season series with Portland 2-1 behind Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks, while the Blazers — who haven’t been to the playoffs since 2021 — are powered by first-time All-Star Deni Avdija along with Shaedon Sharpe and Jerami Grant.
Who will come out victorious Tuesday night? Follow along for live updates and highlights.
