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Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra listens to center Kel’el Ware (7) during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards Saturday, April 4, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo\/Marta Lavandier)<\/p>\n
For the Miami Heat, here\u2019s the bad news: They\u2019re in the play-in tournament again.<\/p>\n
And for the Heat, here\u2019s also some good news: They\u2019re in the play-in tournament again.<\/p>\n
The play-in \u2014 where the final four playoff spots will be decided \u2014 has become an unwanted tradition for Miami, which is in the event for the fourth consecutive season. The Heat used it as a springboard to the playoffs in each of the last three years, and will need to win two road games this week to extend that streak.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s harrowing. It\u2019s nuts,\u201d Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. \u201cYou have to absolutely embrace it. It makes you feel alive, that\u2019s for sure, if you\u2019re a competitor. \u2026 Once you\u2019re in it, it\u2019s exhilarating. And you have to embrace the competition, embrace how every single possession really does matter. It\u2019s a Game 7. And so, I just want our guys to take on that challenge.\u201d<\/p>\n
Also in the field: Charlotte, Orlando and Philadelphia in the Eastern Conference, along with Golden State, the Los Angeles Clippers, Portland and Phoenix in the Western Conference.<\/p>\n
The Clippers have a chance to get to the playoffs after a dismal 6-21 start to the season.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a great achievement,\u201d Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said.<\/p>\n
The schedule<\/p>\n
\u2014 East No. 10 Miami at East No. 9 Charlotte, Tuesday, 7:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
\u2014 West No. 8 Portland at West No. 7 Phoenix, Tuesday, 10 p.m.<\/p>\n
\u2014 East No. 8 Orlando at East No. 7 Philadelphia, Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
\u2014 West No. 10 Golden State at West No. 9 Los Angeles Clippers, Wednesday, 10 p.m.<\/p>\n
How it works<\/p>\n
Every game will either have a team clinching a playoff berth and\/or being eliminated from postseason contention.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Losers of Miami-Charlotte and Golden State-LA Clippers games are eliminated.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Winners of Portland-Phoenix and Orlando-Philadelphia games become No. 7 seeds on playoff bracket (East will face Boston in Round 1, West will face San Antonio in Round 1.)<\/p>\n
\u2014 Orlando-Philadelphia loser will host Miami-Charlotte winner Friday (7:30 p.m.) to determine No. 8 seed in East and who\u2019ll face No. 1 Detroit in Round 1. Losing team in that game is eliminated.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Portland-Phoenix loser will host Golden State-LA Clippers winner Friday (10 p.m.) to determine No. 8 seed in West and who\u2019ll face No. 1 Oklahoma City in Round 1. Losing team in that game is eliminated.<\/p>\n
Play-in past performances<\/p>\n
Phoenix is making its first appearance in the play-in tournament. The other seven teams have all been there at least once before.<\/p>\n
Miami and Golden State are both about to make their fourth appearances in the play-in. Charlotte is in this round for the third time, while this is the second trip for Orlando, Philadelphia, Portland and the Clippers.<\/p>\n
The Heat have gone 4-2 in play-in games. Orlando, Philadelphia and Portland are all 1-0, Golden State is 1-3, while Charlotte and the Clippers are both 0-2.<\/p>\n
Portland won the first play-in game ever \u2014 over Memphis in the bubble in 2020, in what became a one-game playoff. The league went to the current play-in format with eight teams playing down to four spots in 2021.<\/p>\n
Miami at Charlotte, Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. (Prime Video)<\/p>\n
Season series: Miami, 3-1.<\/p>\n
BetMGM Sportbook: Charlotte by 5.5.<\/p>\n
At stake: The winner moves on to an elimination game Friday. The loser is out of the playoffs.<\/p>\n
Outlook: Expect points. The average score of a Heat-Hornets game this season was Miami 126, Charlotte 120. The Heat outscored the Hornets by exactly 23 points in the season series \u2014 and had exactly 23 fewer turnovers. Charlotte has only two players (LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges) who have been part of the play-in before. Miami has 11, including Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo, both of whom have been part of four play-in victories.<\/p>\n
Portland at Phoenix, Tuesday, 10 p.m. (Prime Video)<\/p>\n
Season series: Phoenix, 2-1.<\/p>\n
BetMGM Sportsbook: Phoenix by 4.5.<\/p>\n
At stake: The winner is the No. 7 seed and opens the playoffs Sunday at No. 2 San Antonio. The loser will host the Golden State-LA Clippers winner in an elimination game on Friday to decide the No. 8 seed.<\/p>\n
Outlook: Phoenix outscored Portland by a total of seven points when combining the three meetings, and both teams shot about 46% in those head-to-head matchups. But to be fair, the last of those games was two months ago and neither team is the same at this point. Portland probably exceeded expectations, especially after losing coach Chauncey Billups in the first week of the regular season. Phoenix was likely better than many expected as well.<\/p>\n
Orlando at Philadelphia, Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. (Prime Video)<\/p>\n
Season series: Philadelphia, 2-1.<\/p>\n
BetMGM Sportsbook: Philadelphia by 1.5.<\/p>\n
At stake: The winner is the No. 7 seed and opens the playoffs Sunday at No. 2 Boston. The loser will host the Miami-Charlotte winner in an elimination game on Friday to decide the No. 8 seed.<\/p>\n
Outlook: Philadelphia beat Orlando twice by exactly 12 points both times this season, and the lone Magic win in the season series was by 41. The 76ers are dealing with the loss of Joel Embiid to an appendectomy last week, the latest chapter in a most unpredictable season for Philly. Orlando will have to move on past the disappointment of falling against a short-handed Boston team in the regular-season finale.<\/p>\n
Golden State at LA Clippers, Wednesday, 10 p.m. (Prime Video)<\/p>\n
Season series: LA, 3-1.<\/p>\n
BetMGM Sportsbook: Clippers by 4.5.<\/p>\n
At stake: The winner moves on to an elimination game Friday. The loser is eliminated.<\/p>\n
Outlook: The first elimination game in the West this season will send either the Clippers\u2019 Kawhi Leonard or the Warriors\u2019 Stephen Curry home for the summer. Fitting that they\u2019re facing off here; the combined four-game score of the season series was Warriors 411, Clippers 411. Leonard will be in a play-in game for the first time. The Warriors have gone 1-3 in Curry\u2019s previous four play-in appearances, but he\u2019s averaged 33.8 points in those four games.<\/p>\n
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