The GIST: Two games in, and the NBA Play-In Tournament is already doing what it does best — stirring up chaos. Official playoff berths are on the line, and the high-stakes hoopla has only just begun.
- A quick reminder: The winner of the No. 7 vs. No. 8 game snags their conference’s No. 7 seed. The loser then battles the winner of the No. 9 vs. No. 10 tilt for the No. 8 seed, while the loser of the No. 9 vs. No. 10 game is eliminated. It’s admittedly a little confusing, so let’s discuss…
💥 No. 9 Charlotte Hornets outlast No. 10 Miami Heat in overtime to keep season alive: Last night’s tilt was a bona fide thriller — a LaMelo Ball layup with four seconds left clinched the 127–126 dub, eliminating the Heat in the process. An Eastern Conference playoff berth doesn’t come that easy though: Winners of the No. 9 vs. No. 10 games need two wins to secure their spot.
- That means the Hornets will be watching tonight’s 7:30 p.m. ET game between the No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers and No. 8 Orlando Magic closely: They’ll battle the loser of that showdown for the eighth and final playoff spot in the East. No pressure.
🎟️ Portland Trail Blazers lock in Western Conference No. 7 seed: As mentioned, finishing the regular season in the No. 7 or No. 8 spot is a tourney advantage — one win, and you’re in. And Deni Avdija took that to heart, dropping 41 points in last night’s gritty 114–110 upset win over the Phoenix Suns.
- That said, the postseason isn’t over for the Suns just yet: The West’s No. 8 seed is still up for grabs, meaning Phoenix will have another, ahem, shot to punch a playoff ticket.
⭐ Tonight’s must-watch star-powered showdown: It’s not that the Sixers and Magic game won’t be thrilling, but the other game has really caught our attention — a finally-healthy Steph Curry and the No. 10 Golden State Warriors against Kawhi Leonard’s No. 9 LA Clippers at 10 p.m. ET. Two of the best hoopers to ever lace ’em up in a do-or-die Play-In game? Pure (millenial) magic.