LaMelo Ball and the Charlotte Hornets defeated the Miami Heat in overtime to advance in the 2026 SoFi Play-In Tournament.
What we know about Tuesday’s games:
APRIL 15 / 1:16 ET
Deni was dominant
DENI JUST DOMINATED 🔥
41 PTS
7 REB
12 AST
2 BLK
3 3PM
Portland clinches the West #7 seed and will face San Antonio in Round 1 of the NBA Playoffs presented by @Google! pic.twitter.com/4dF1VcsLC1
— NBA (@NBA) April 15, 2026
APRIL 15 / 12:57 ET
One time for LaMelo Ball
LAMELO DROPPED 30 AND HIT THE GO-AHEAD BUCKET!
30 PTS
5 REB
10 AST
The Hornets will compete for the East 8-seed on Friday 🔥 pic.twitter.com/YJMv4FN10N
— NBA (@NBA) April 15, 2026
APRIL 15 / 12:47 ET
Blazers win a tight one
What a night of basketball.
Portland wins 114-110 behind Deni Avdija (41 pts, 7 reb, 12 ast on 15-of-22 shooting), who gave them the lead for good.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT, DENI IS HIM. pic.twitter.com/omgnra0hR4
— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) April 15, 2026
Jalen Green (35 pts) had a chance to knock down a 3-pointer to give Phoenix the lead, but couldn’t convert.
Jordan Goodwin grabbed the offensive rebound for Phoenix, but it was knocked away to Jrue Holiday (21 pts) who tossed it to Jerami Grant (16 pts) for the game-capping slam.
The Blazers were down eight with 3:11 to go, but battled back to earn the victory.
“Pride, most of all,” said Holiday of his feelings on his team’s effort. “We took care of business.”
APRIL 15 / 12:40 ET
Portland retakes the lead
108-107 with 37.3 seconds to go, as Deni Avdija (38 pts) used the right-hand in-and-out dribble to shake Jalen Green and get in the lane for the finger roll finish.
What a battle.
“It’s getting gritty on every level in this one,” said Kevin Harlan.
APRIL 15 / 12:35 ET
A one-point game
Phoenix up one with 2:24 to go, as the Blazers use a 7-0 run to cut the lead to 105-104 with 2:12 to go.
Both teams are giving it their all — it’s been physical all night in the Mortgage Matchup Center.
Tune in to Prime to catch the finish!
JALEN GREEN IS UP TO 35 PTS 🎯
Suns lead by 6 with under 4 to play in Q4! pic.twitter.com/u2YdjtyZiF
— NBA (@NBA) April 15, 2026
APRIL 15 / 12:25 ET
Phoenix on a run
100-97 Phoenix with 4:14 to go in the fourth. Phoenix has controlled most of this quarter, but Jrue Holiday (21 pts) and Deni Avdija (34 pts) just stuck back-to-back 3-pointers to keep the Blazers alive in this tenacious affair.
The Blazers’ stars just stepped up when it counts. Can the Suns respond?
APRIL 15 / 12:12 ET
Suns surge into the lead
88-83 Phoenix with 10:08 to go in the fourth quarter.
They’ve grabbed nine offensive rebounds, establishing their will on the glass, as Portland looks for momentum on the road.
APRIL 15 / 12:03 ET
Suns cut it to one
83-82 Trail Blazers entering the fourth quarter, as Phoenix ends the third quarter on a 13-4 run.
APRIL 14 / 11:55 ET
Blazers hold small lead
81-75 with 2:39 to go in the third quarter, as Deni Avdija (26 pts, 5 reb, 9 ast) battles his way to lead all scorers.
Portland’s gone 13-of-36 (36.1%) from 3-point range so far, while Phoenix is 6 of 19 (31.6%).
APRIL 14 / 11:13 ET
Suns rally, but Trail Blazers lead
Portland led by as many as 14 points, but Phoenix ended the half on a 14-5 run to cut it to 65-62 at the break.
Jalen Green (22 pts) leads the Suns, while Deni Avdija (16 pts) is the top scorer for the Blazers.
Jalen Green 4-point play 👏
He’s got a game-high 22 PTS in the @SoFi Play-In! pic.twitter.com/Ficbr3aEBg
— NBA (@NBA) April 15, 2026
APRIL 14 / 10:59 ET
Shaedon Sharpe soars
A 62.8 on the Dunk Score scale — what elevation.
DENI TO SHARPE FOR THE ALLEY-OOP SLAM 💥
Trail Blazers lead by 7 in Q2 of the @SoFi Play-In! pic.twitter.com/gzbZe2inSp
— NBA (@NBA) April 15, 2026
The Blazers have taken control mid-way through the second quarter, thanks in part to the three ball — they’ve hit nine 3-pointers to zero for Phoenix.
APRIL 14 / 10:28 ET
The tale of the tape: Trail Blazers-Suns
Dillon Brooks and the Suns host the Trail Blazers in the nightcap of tonight’s SoFi Play-In Tournament doubleheader.
Portland Trail Blazers: ORTG 114.4 (20th) DRTG 114.7 (14th) Net rating: -0.3 (19th)
Portland battled all season, dealing with injuries to Shaedon Sharpe and Scoot Henderson, led by first-time All-Star Deni Avdija and championship veteran Jrue Holiday.
Watch their centers tonight — Donovan Clingan and Robert Williams III can be a dynamic, dominant duo on the right night, and they’re facing the young Mark Williams.
Phoenix Suns: ORTG 115.4 (16th) DRTG: 113.9 (10th) Net rating: +1.5 (15th)
Phoenix forged a tough, defensive-minded identity through the season, even as Jalen Green missed time. They have a variety of gritty role players. Collin Gillespie or Ryan Dunn could show up tonight, as they navigate a less-physical Portland squad.
APRIL 14 / 10:23 ET
Hornets win
Charlotte moves on to the second stage of the 2026 SoFi Play-In Tournament 127-126.
WHAT A FINISH IN CHARLOTTE! https://t.co/nfsHwbYvtj pic.twitter.com/xeLjRb4C7f
— NBA (@NBA) April 15, 2026
“We just stuck with it. We stuck with it; we grinded it out,” said LaMelo Ball (30 pts), as he was presented with the NBA Prime Playmaker chain.
“We can make a highlight reel just off the last seven minutes of this basketball game,” said Stan Van Gundy. “You can’t watch a game more exciting than that.”
“That was a fantastic NBA game,” said Ian Eagle.
APRIL 14 / 10:21 ET
Heat rally back
126-125 with 8.7 seconds remaining after six straight points from Tyler Herro. Charlotte ball.
High drama.
APRIL 14 / 10:11 ET
Hornets up five
123-118 with 1:23 remaining, as “let’s go Hornets” chants rain down at the Spectrum Center.
Charlotte last advanced to the Playoffs in the 2015-16 season.
APRIL 14 / 10:03 ET
We’re headed to overtime
Tyler Herro shook free, but his game-winning 3-point attempt was too strong.
What a way to start the 2026 NBA Postseason.
APRIL 14 / 10:01 ET
A thriller in the Spectrum Center
114-all with 10.8 seconds to go after Coby White hit a fadeaway 3-pointer while falling out of bounds, countering two free throws from Tyler Herro.
One shot to advance. Tune in to Prime!
APRIL 14 / 9:56 ET
Charlotte cuts it to one
A 3-pointer from Brandon Miller shrinks the Heat lead to 112-111 with 18.6 seconds remaining, as the Heat seek to move to 5-0 in Play-In games.
APRIL 14 / 9:50 ET
Heat seize control
111-105 Miami with 1:42 to go after back-to-back buckets from Andrew Wiggins and Tyler Herro.
Charlotte countered by going small with Grant Williams at center. Can they rally to extend their season?
APRIL 14 / 9:47 ET
Going down to the wire in Charlotte
102-all with 4:14 to go in the fourth quarter, as the Hornets go on a 7-0 run to tie it.
It’s the start of the 2026 NBA Postseason, and we’re beginning with a bang.
APRIL 14 / 9:37 ET
Heat sizzling
97-93 Miami, as the Heat battle back with a 14-4 start to the fourth quarter, including seven points from Davion Mitchell (24 pts on the game).
APRIL 14 / 9:21 ET
‘Coby White is not human!’
Another five straight points for Coby White (16 pts), giving the Hornets an 89-83 lead after three quarters.
Coby White in Q3 of the @SoFi Play-In:
14 PTS (5-5 FGM)
4 3PM https://t.co/jFQUaOPcxq pic.twitter.com/6su03D0N37
— NBA (@NBA) April 15, 2026
APRIL 14 / 9:19 ET
Charlotte responds
With a 13-3 run, capped by back-to-back 3-pointers by Coby White (11 pts), born in Goldsboro, North Carolina.
They’re up 84-79 with 1:22 to go in the third quarter.
APRIL 14 / 9:14 ET
‘The Heat are starting to wear the Hornets out in transition’
Says Stan Van Gundy, with the score 76-71 Miami and 4:23 left in the third quarter.
Miami’s been pushing the ball in transition, earning a 12-2 advantage in fast break points, while the Hornets haven’t found their shooting touch.
Ware SWAT ➡️ Wiggins SLAM
Ware SWAT ➡️ Wiggins SLAM
Heat up 5 in Q3 on Prime! pic.twitter.com/SnqwdOwQmA
— NBA (@NBA) April 15, 2026
APRIL 14 / 8:50 ET
Heat up at the half
54-52.
Andrew Wiggins and Davion Mitchell have 10 points apiece to lead the Heat, while LaMelo Ball has 17 points to top the Hornets.
Bam Adebayo went back to the locker room with a lower back injury — he’s questionable to return.
Miami’s held the Hornets to 38.8% shooting from the field so far, knocking down 46% of their shots themselves.
Herro… COUNT IT pic.twitter.com/eTS5x6m1QE
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) April 15, 2026
APRIL 14 / 8:23 ET
Dueling in the postseason
37-36 Hornets with 7:43 to go in the second quarter. The teams are close in basically every team statistical category — the Heat have a slight advantage in points in the paint, 22-16.
Norman Powell gets the circus shot to fall in the @SoFi Play-In 👏 pic.twitter.com/wIkdmGwmCZ
— NBA (@NBA) April 15, 2026
These division rivals saw each other four times in the regular season, with the Heat winning three of them. That familiarity is evident so far.
APRIL 14 / 7:59 ET
Hornets take the early lead
22-18 with 4:50 to go in the first.
LaMelo Ball (9 pts) is off to a quick start in the biggest game of his NBA career, while the Heat are pushing the pace in transition to battle back.
Bridges SWAT.
Ball BUCKET.
The Hornets are hungry for their first appearance in the NBA Playoffs presented by @Google in 10 years! pic.twitter.com/MyfY4N2B5p
— NBA (@NBA) April 14, 2026
APRIL 14 / 7:00 ET
The tale of the tape: Heat-Hornets
Bam Adebayo’s Heat take on Moussa Diabaté’s Hornets in the opening half of our SoFi Play-In Tournament doubleheader on Prime.
Miami Heat: 116.7 ORTG (13th), 114.5 DRTG (13th), +2.2 Net Rating (13th)
The Heat have been an aggressive, idiosyncratic team all season, playing at the league’s fastest pace (103.4) and scoring the second-most points per game (120.9), although their efficiency stats are middle of the pack.
The individual defensive matchups will matter tonight against Charlotte — can LaMelo Ball and Kon Knueppel slow Tyler Herro and Norman Powell? Does Brandon Miller contain Andrew Wiggins and Jaime Jaquez Jr.? We’ll see if the Heat can create gaps to exploit in transition.
Charlotte Hornets: 119.4 OTRG (5th), 114.4 DRTG (12th), +5.0 Net Rating (8th)
Since Jan. 1, the Hornets have the best net rating (+10.7) and offensive rating (121.9) in the NBA. as they got healthy and found their rhythm as a unit. Grant Williams and Coby White have bolstered the bench, while Moussa Diabaté and Ryan Kalkbrenner have been welcome additions as unexpected stalwarts at the center position.
They’ll need to keep their nerve and control the tempo against an experienced Miami squad. This team plays slow — a pace of 96.8, which is 26th in the NBA.
APRIL 14 / 6:30 ET
Welcome to the SoFi Play-In Tournament!
Deni Avdija and the Trail Blazers host the Phoenix Suns in tonight’s SoFi Play-In Tournament nightcap on Prime.
We’ve got two games this evening on Prime as the postseason begins:
NBA.com’s Shaun Powell has breakdowns of each contest for you to check out before the action.
