Play‑In matchups locked

The National Basketball Association play-in field is set, with Miami at Charlotte in the East and Portland at Phoenix in the West on Tuesday, April 14. (nba.com) Miami finished 10th in the Eastern Conference at 42-39, one game behind ninth-place Charlotte at 43-38. In the West, Phoenix claimed seventh at 44-37 and Portland took eighth at 41-40. (espn.com) The Tuesday slate is split between two different stakes. Heat-Hornets is a 9-versus-10 elimination game, while Trail Blazers-Suns is a 7-versus-8 game with the winner moving straight into the playoffs as the No. 7 seed. (nba.com) The play-in tournament uses the teams that finished seventh through 10th in each conference to decide the last two playoff spots. The 7-8 winner gets the No. 7 seed, the 9-10 loser is out, and the remaining No. 8 seed is decided on Friday, April 17. (nba.com) That format leaves Miami and Charlotte with no margin for error on Tuesday night. The winner advances to face the loser of Wednesday’s Orlando Magic-Philadelphia 76ers game for the East’s final playoff berth. (nba.com) Phoenix and Portland open with a different path. The Suns can clinch the West’s No. 7 seed immediately with a win, while the Trail Blazers would still get a second chance Friday if they lose. (nba.com) The rest of the bracket is already partly in place around them. Boston is waiting for the East’s No. 7 seed, Detroit is waiting for the East’s No. 8 seed, San Antonio is waiting for the West’s No. 7 seed, and Oklahoma City is waiting for the West’s No. 8 seed. (nba.com) All four play-in dates run from April 14 through April 17, and the first round starts April 18. Tuesday’s two games are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time and 10 p.m. Eastern Time on Prime Video. (nba.com)