NBA Play-In Tournament Live Updates: Heat vs. Hornets and Trail Blazers vs. Suns Results
The NBA Play‑In Tournament opened on Tuesday with two decisive games: the Miami Heat versus the Charlotte Hornets in the Eastern Conference and the Portland Trail Blazers versus the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference.
Both contests were scheduled for Prime Video, with tip‑off at 7:30 p.m. ET for the Heat‑Hornets game and at 10:00 p.m. ET for the Blazers‑Suns matchup.
The Eastern contest was the No. 9 vs. No. 10 seed game, meaning the loser was eliminated from postseason contention, while the Western game was the No. 7 vs. No. 8 seed “double‑chance” matchup.
The winner of the Portland‑Phoenix game will advance to face the San Antonio Spurs in the first round, preserving a path to the playoffs.
Charlotte entered the Play‑In with a 0‑2 record in previous Play‑In appearances, suffering blowout defeats to Indiana in 2021 and Atlanta in 2022.
Miami’s Play‑In history is stronger, posting a 4‑2 record and securing the No. 8 seed in each of the last three seasons, including a 10‑seed run last year.
The Hornets’ season series against the Heat ended 3‑1 in Miami’s favor, with the Heat winning three of the four meetings and the Hornets capturing the final game in March.
A detailed view of the season series is shown below.
| Date | Winner | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 28 | Heat | 144‑117 |
| Nov 7 | Heat | 126‑108 |
| Mar 6 | Heat | 128‑120 |
| Mar 17 | Hornets | 136‑106 |
The key matchup highlighted by analysts is Hornets forward Moussa Diabate versus Heat center Bam Adebayo, with Diabate’s ability to limit Adebayo’s offensive impact considered pivotal.
Statistically, Charlotte ranks fourth in the league for offensive rebounding percentage, while Miami is eighth in defensive rebounding, underscoring the importance of limiting second‑chance opportunities.
Charlotte’s offensive rebounding rate and three‑point shooting volume have been central to their recent surge, as noted by Pacers coach Rick Carlisle.
The Hornets rank second in both offensive rebounding rate and three‑point attempts per game, converting those attempts at the third‑best league percentage.
They also lead the league in three‑point makes, tallying 273 threes this season, just edging LaMelo Ball’s 272.
Kon Knueppel’s 273 three‑pointers set a new franchise record, surpassing Kemba Walker’s 260‑make mark from 2018‑19.
Knueppel, a rookie from Duke, has been described as “a f—ing killer” by Hornets head coach Charles Lee, reflecting his aggressive shooting style.
LaMelo Ball contributed 30 points and 13 assists in the Hornets’ March 17 victory over Miami, demonstrating his playmaking impact.
Brandon Miller, returning from injury earlier in the season, has become a cornerstone for Charlotte, helping the team achieve a 26.4‑point per 100 possessions advantage when the core lineup is on the floor.
That core—Ball, Miller, Knueppel, Miles Bridges, and Diabate—has logged over 250 minutes together, producing the highest offensive efficiency among similar lineups since 2015‑16.
Charlotte’s turnaround began on Jan 5, 2024, with a 27‑point win at Oklahoma City, a game that signaled the team’s shift from a 4‑14 start to a winning trajectory.
Subsequent victories over Utah (55 points), the Lakers (18 points), Denver (23 points), and a 27‑point win in Orlando sparked a nine‑game winning streak.
Ownership changes have also played a role; the 2023 sale to Rick Schnall and Gabe Plotkin brought a $245 million renovation to the Spectrum Center and an expanded front‑office staff.
Charlotte now boasts a dedicated nutritionist, a larger sports‑performance department, and a new practice facility, aligning the organization with league‑wide best practices.
Miami entered the Play‑In as the No. 10 seed after finishing the regular season with a split 10‑10 record over the final 20 games.
The Heat’s defense has fluctuated throughout the season, ranking fourth, 14th, fifth, and 26th across the four quarters, reflecting inconsistency despite a league‑leading pace.
Miami’s Play‑In experience includes a 10‑seed run last year, where they defeated two teams with losing records to secure the No. 8 seed.
Key players for Miami include Tyler Herro, who scored 33 points on March 6, and Jaques Jr., who contributed 28 points in the October 28 opener.
Portland’s Play‑In record stands at 1‑0, with a 2020 victory over Memphis, while Phoenix makes its Play‑In debut this season.
The Blazers and Suns split their regular‑season series 2‑1 in Phoenix’s favor, with only one game occurring after the All‑Star break.
A concise summary of the Blazers‑Suns series is presented below.
| Game | Winner | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blazers | Portland |
| 2 | Suns | Portland |
| 3 | Suns | Phoenix |
Key matchups in the Western game include Toumani Camara defending Devin Booker, a duel that could tilt the contest given Booker’s scoring prowess.
The Suns rank seventh in three‑point volume and 12th in three‑point percentage, while Portland sits third in volume but 27th in percentage, highlighting a shooting efficiency gap.
Portland’s forward Deni Avdija, now an All‑Star, increased his scoring average from 16.9 to 24.2 points per game and his assists from 3.9 to 6.7, providing a dual threat.
Avdija’s development follows a 2024 trade that sent him from Washington to Portland, where he has become a primary offensive catalyst.
If the Blazers win, they will face the Spurs in the first round, while a Suns victory secures a matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers.
The “double‑chance” format gives the loser of the 7‑8 game a 50 percent probability of winning the subsequent play‑in matchup, according to historical data.
Both games were played at the teams’ home arenas: the Spectrum Center in Charlotte (capacity 17,500) and the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix (capacity 17,071).
The Hornets’ offensive rebounding advantage has been described as “manufacturing high‑quality three‑point shots from second‑chance opportunities,” a strategy emphasized by Coach Lee.
Charlotte’s turnover rate ranks third highest in the league, a vulnerability that Miami’s disciplined defense may exploit.
Miami’s defensive rebounding rank (eighth) will be tested against Charlotte’s offensive boards, a factor that could determine possession counts.
For the Heat, limiting the Hornets’ three‑point barrage—averaging 16.4 makes per game at 37.8 percent—will be essential to disrupting Charlotte’s scoring rhythm.
Conversely, the Hornets will look to exploit the Heat’s inconsistent defensive rankings across the season’s quarters.
The Play‑In outcomes have broader implications: a Hornets win would mark the franchise’s first playoff appearance since 2016, while a Heat victory would continue their recent trend of Play‑In success.
A Suns win would represent the franchise’s inaugural Play‑In appearance, potentially setting a new competitive baseline for the team.
A Blazers victory would break a five‑year playoff drought, returning Portland to the postseason for the first time since 2021.
All four teams have distinct narratives entering the tournament, ranging from rebuilding projects to established postseason contenders.
Fans and analysts can follow live updates and post‑game analysis via Veezstream’s live coverage.
Tickets for the games were available through StubHub, with capacity crowds expected at both venues.
Contact for further information or commentary is live@theathletic.com.
