EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe 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 tournamentEast first roundWest first roundPlay-in tournamentPhiladelphia 76ers (7) vs. Orlando Magic (8)Jerry Bembry: MagicJamal Collier: 76ersVincent Goodwill: 76ersBaxter Holmes: 76ersZach Kram: MagicTim MacMahon: 76ersDave McMenamin: 76ersAnthony Slater: 76ersRamona Shelburne: MagicMarc J. Spears: 76ersMichael C. Wright: MagicOhm Youngmisuk: MagicEric Moody: MagicFinal Tally: 76ers 7, Magic 6Charlotte Hornets (9) vs. Miami Heat (10)Jerry Bembry: HeatJamal Collier: HornetsVincent Goodwill: HeatBaxter Holmes: HornetsZach Kram: HornetsTim MacMahon: HornetsDave McMenamin: HornetsAnthony Slater: HornetsRamona Shelburne: HornetsMarc J. Spears: HeatMichael C. Wright: HornetsOhm Youngmisuk: HornetsEric Moody: HornetsFinal Tally: Hornets 10, Heat 3Phoenix Suns (7) vs. Portland Trail Blazers (8)Jerry Bembry: SunsJamal Collier: Trail BlazersVincent Goodwill: SunsBaxter Holmes: Trail BlazersZach Kram: Trail BlazersTim MacMahon: SunsDave McMenamin: SunsAnthony Slater: SunsRamona Shelburne: SunsMarc J. Spears: SunsMichael C. Wright: SunsOhm Youngmisuk: SunsEric Moody: SunsFinal Tally: Suns 10, Trail Blazers 3LA Clippers (9) vs. Golden State Warriors (10)Jerry Bembry: ClippersJamal Collier: ClippersVincent Goodwill: ClippersBaxter Holmes: ClippersZach Kram: ClippersTim MacMahon: ClippersDave McMenamin: ClippersAnthony Slater: WarriorsRamona Shelburne: ClippersMarc J. Spears: WarriorsMichael C. Wright: ClippersOhm Youngmisuk: ClippersEric Moody: ClippersFinal Tally: Clippers 11, Warriors 2Eastern Conference first roundNew York Knicks (3) vs. Atlanta Hawks (6)Jerry Bembry: Knicks in 6Vincent Goodwill: Knicks in 6Baxter Holmes: Knicks in 6Zach Kram: Knicks in 7Tim MacMahon: Knicks in 6Dave McMenamin: Knicks in 6Anthony Slater: Knicks in 6Ramona Shelburne: Knicks in 5Marc J. Spears: Knicks in 6Michael C. Wright: Knicks in 7Ohm Youngmisuk: Knicks in 6Eric Moody: Knicks in 6Final Tally: Knicks 12, Hawks 0Cleveland Cavaliers (4) vs. Toronto Raptors (5)Jerry Bembry: Cavaliers in 6Vincent Goodwill: Cavaliers in 7Baxter Holmes: Cavaliers in 6Zach Kram: Cavaliers in 5Tim MacMahon: Cavaliers in 6Dave McMenamin: Cavaliers in 6Anthony Slater: Cavaliers in 6Ramona Shelburne: Cavaliers in 6Marc J. Spears: Cavaliers in 6Michael C. Wright: Cavaliers in 7Ohm Youngmisuk: Cavaliers in 6Eric Moody: Cavaliers in 5Final Tally: Cavaliers 12, Raptors 0Western Conference first roundDenver Nuggets (3) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (6)Jerry Bembry: Nuggets in 7Vincent Goodwill: Nuggets in 7Baxter Holmes: Nuggets in 6Zach Kram: Nuggets in 5Tim MacMahon: Nuggets in 7Dave McMenamin: Nuggets in 7Anthony Slater: Nuggets in 7Ramona Shelburne: Nuggets in 5Marc J. Spears: Nuggets in 6Michael C. Wright: Nuggets in 7Ohm Youngmisuk: Nuggets in 7Eric Moody: Nuggets in 6Final Tally: Nuggets 12, Timberwolves 0Los Angeles Lakers (4) vs. Houston Rockets (5)Jerry Bembry: Rockets in 7Vincent Goodwill: Rockets in 5Baxter Holmes: Rockets in 6Zach Kram: Rockets in 6Tim MacMahon: Rockets in 6Dave McMenamin: Rockets in 6Anthony Slater: Rockets in 5Ramona Shelburne: Rockets in 6Marc J. Spears: Lakers in 6Michael C. Wright: Rockets in 7Ohm Youngmisuk: Rockets in 7Eric Moody: Rockets in 5Final Tally: Rockets 11, Lakers 1
