The NBA play-in tournament has commenced.
The Miami Heat and Charlotte Hornets faced off to start things in the Eastern Conference’s No. 9 and No. 10 seed matchup.
Miami’s Play-In Experience vs Charlotte’s Hot Streak
Miami entered with a 3-1 edge over Charlotte in the season series. The Heat have plenty of play-in experience, appearing in an NBA-high seven games since 2021.
Miami became the first team to reach the NBA Finals from the tournament in 2023. Norman Powell and Tyler Herro led that Heat team.
Charlotte, seeking its first playoff berth since 2016, rebounded from a 9-20 start with a 35-18 finish. The Hornets set an NBA record with an 18.2 point differential in wins.
LaMelo Ball and Kon Knueppel ranked first and second in 3-pointers made for Charlotte.
What’s Next for the Winner and Loser
The winner of the Heat/Hornets game plays the loser of the No. 7 and No. 8 game between the Orlando Magic and Philadelphia 76ers.
Western Conference Match-Up
The Portland Trail Blazers and Phoenix Suns closed out the night in a Western Conference battle of the No. 7 and No. 8 seeds.
Phoenix returned to the play-in after a 45-win bounce-back season, taking the series 2-1 behind Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks.
Portland — last in the playoffs in 2021 — is powered by first-time All-Star Deni Avdija, along with Shaedon Sharpe and Jerami Grant.
The winner plays the San Antonio Spurs in the first round, while the loser faces either the LA Clippers or Golden State Warriors.
The NBA play-in tournament continues with more games to come.