The 2026 NBA postseason tips off Tuesday, when the Charlotte Hornets host the Miami Heat and Phoenix Suns host the Portland Trail Blazers in night one of the play-in tournament. Which East team will get one step closer to the 8-seed, and which West contender will secure a matchup with the 2-seeded San Antonio Spurs?
Our NBA experts are picking Tuesday’s games, plus every play-in showdown and first-round series.
Jump to:
Play-in tournament
East first round
West first round
Play-in tournament
Philadelphia 76ers (7) vs. Orlando Magic (8)
Jerry Bembry: Magic
Jamal Collier: 76ers
Vincent Goodwill: 76ers
Baxter Holmes: 76ers
Zach Kram: Magic
Tim MacMahon: 76ers
Dave McMenamin: 76ers
Anthony Slater: 76ers
Ramona Shelburne: Magic
Marc J. Spears: 76ers
Michael C. Wright: Magic
Ohm Youngmisuk: Magic
Eric Moody: Magic
Final Tally: 76ers 7, Magic 6
Charlotte Hornets (9) vs. Miami Heat (10)
Jerry Bembry: Heat
Jamal Collier: Hornets
Vincent Goodwill: Heat
Baxter Holmes: Hornets
Zach Kram: Hornets
Tim MacMahon: Hornets
Dave McMenamin: Hornets
Anthony Slater: Hornets
Ramona Shelburne: Hornets
Marc J. Spears: Heat
Michael C. Wright: Hornets
Ohm Youngmisuk: Hornets
Eric Moody: Hornets
Final Tally: Hornets 10, Heat 3
Phoenix Suns (7) vs. Portland Trail Blazers (8)
Jerry Bembry: Suns
Jamal Collier: Trail Blazers
Vincent Goodwill: Suns
Baxter Holmes: Trail Blazers
Zach Kram: Trail Blazers
Tim MacMahon: Suns
Dave McMenamin: Suns
Anthony Slater: Suns
Ramona Shelburne: Suns
Marc J. Spears: Suns
Michael C. Wright: Suns
Ohm Youngmisuk: Suns
Eric Moody: Suns
Final Tally: Suns 10, Trail Blazers 3
LA Clippers (9) vs. Golden State Warriors (10)
Jerry Bembry: Clippers
Jamal Collier: Clippers
Vincent Goodwill: Clippers
Baxter Holmes: Clippers
Zach Kram: Clippers
Tim MacMahon: Clippers
Dave McMenamin: Clippers
Anthony Slater: Warriors
Ramona Shelburne: Clippers
Marc J. Spears: Warriors
Michael C. Wright: Clippers
Ohm Youngmisuk: Clippers
Eric Moody: Clippers
Final Tally: Clippers 11, Warriors 2
Eastern Conference first round
New York Knicks (3) vs. Atlanta Hawks (6)
Jerry Bembry: Knicks in 6
Vincent Goodwill: Knicks in 6
Baxter Holmes: Knicks in 6
Zach Kram: Knicks in 7
Tim MacMahon: Knicks in 6
Dave McMenamin: Knicks in 6
Anthony Slater: Knicks in 6
Ramona Shelburne: Knicks in 5
Marc J. Spears: Knicks in 6
Michael C. Wright: Knicks in 7
Ohm Youngmisuk: Knicks in 6
Eric Moody: Knicks in 6
Final Tally: Knicks 12, Hawks 0
Cleveland Cavaliers (4) vs. Toronto Raptors (5)
Jerry Bembry: Cavaliers in 6
Vincent Goodwill: Cavaliers in 7
Baxter Holmes: Cavaliers in 6
Zach Kram: Cavaliers in 5
Tim MacMahon: Cavaliers in 6
Dave McMenamin: Cavaliers in 6
Anthony Slater: Cavaliers in 6
Ramona Shelburne: Cavaliers in 6
Marc J. Spears: Cavaliers in 6
Michael C. Wright: Cavaliers in 7
Ohm Youngmisuk: Cavaliers in 6
Eric Moody: Cavaliers in 5
Final Tally: Cavaliers 12, Raptors 0
Western Conference first round
Denver Nuggets (3) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (6)
Jerry Bembry: Nuggets in 7
Vincent Goodwill: Nuggets in 7
Baxter Holmes: Nuggets in 6
Zach Kram: Nuggets in 5
Tim MacMahon: Nuggets in 7
Dave McMenamin: Nuggets in 7
Anthony Slater: Nuggets in 7
Ramona Shelburne: Nuggets in 5
Marc J. Spears: Nuggets in 6
Michael C. Wright: Nuggets in 7
Ohm Youngmisuk: Nuggets in 7
Eric Moody: Nuggets in 6
Final Tally: Nuggets 12, Timberwolves 0
Los Angeles Lakers (4) vs. Houston Rockets (5)
Jerry Bembry: Rockets in 7
Vincent Goodwill: Rockets in 5
Baxter Holmes: Rockets in 6
Zach Kram: Rockets in 6
Tim MacMahon: Rockets in 6
Dave McMenamin: Rockets in 6
Anthony Slater: Rockets in 5
Ramona Shelburne: Rockets in 6
Marc J. Spears: Lakers in 6
Michael C. Wright: Rockets in 7
Ohm Youngmisuk: Rockets in 7
Eric Moody: Rockets in 5
Final Tally: Rockets 11, Lakers 1
