Chaos in the Play-In: Hornets Survive Epic OT, Blazers Stun Suns

If the opening night of the 2026 SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament is any indication of what the rest of the postseason holds, basketball fans and bettors are in for a wild ride. Tuesday night delivered an instant classic in Charlotte and a stunning fourth-quarter comeback in Phoenix, setting the stage for the rest of the bracket. For bettors, it was a night where the underdogs barked loudly. Both the Charlotte Hornets (+3) and Portland Trail Blazers (+5.5) won outright, cashing moneyline tickets and covering the spread with room to spare. The Greatest Play-In Game Ever? The East's 9 vs. 10 matchup between the Charlotte Hornets and Miami Heat was billed as a clash of styles, but it turned into an absolute heavyweight fight. With 16 lead changes, 17 ties, and zero double-digit leads throughout the night, the Hornets ultimately survived a 127-126 overtime thriller at the Spectrum Center. The heroics came from all over the roster. Coby White, the mid-season acquisition from Chicago, caught fire in the third quarter with 11 straight points to swing the momentum. But when the game was on the line in overtime, the ball found its way to LaMelo Ball. Despite struggling from deep all night (2-for-16 from three), Ball didn't settle. Trailing by one with nine seconds left, he drove hard to the rim, finishing a tough layup through contact with just 4.7 seconds remaining. At the other end, Miles Bridges secured the victory with a game-sealing block at the buzzer. "Before 'Melo would've shot a stepback 3 to try to win the game, but he has a different sense of urgency," Bridges said postgame, highlighting the maturity that has driven Charlotte's incredible second-half turnaround. The win keeps the Hornets' season alive, sending them on the road Friday to face the loser of Wednesday's Magic-76ers matchup. The Heat, meanwhile, head into the offseason wondering what could have been after losing Bam Adebayo to a lower back injury early in the second quarter. Avdija's Historic Takeover Out West, the Portland Trail Blazers secured the No. 7 seed and a first-round date with the San Antonio Spurs by erasing an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit against the Phoenix Suns, winning 114-110. The story of the night was Deni Avdija. The versatile forward put together a performance for the ages, finishing with 41 points, 7 rebounds, and 12 assists. In doing so, he became the first player in Play-In Tournament history to record 40+ points and 10+ assists in a single game. Avdija took over down the stretch, scoring 14 points in the final frame alone. His go-ahead and-one finish with 16 seconds left gave Portland the lead for good, capping off a remarkable run for a team that started the season 10-18. "I'm so happy for the guys," Avdija said. "We worked so hard. We had the ups and downs... to go to the Playoffs, it's the best thing that's ever happened to me in my career." The Suns, despite 35 points from Jalen Green, are now eliminated from playoff contention, marking a disappointing end to a season filled with high expectations. Looking Ahead The Play-In action continues tonight with two massive matchups. In the East, the Orlando Magic visit the Philadelphia 76ers in a battle for the No. 7 seed. Out West, it's a win-or-go-home showdown between the Golden State Warriors and LA Clippers. If Tuesday night taught us anything, it's that in the Play-In Tournament, anything can happen. Related reading: Check out our full breakdown of the 2026 NBA Playoff Bracket and see how the final day of the regular season shaped the standings in our NBA Final Day Chaos recap.