NBA experts' picks for Hornets-Heat, Blazers-Suns and first-round matchups

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