The Portland Trail Blazers face the Phoenix Suns in a crucial NBA Play-In Tournament game tonight. Predictions and betting insights highlight the matchup's significance for both teams' playoff aspirations.
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Adam Silver has gotten two things right in his tenure as NBA commissioner. He pointed out Donald Sterling was a racist, and he created the Play-In Tournament.
This weekâs six games are an absolute joy, though if you ask Portland Trail Blazers fans or Phoenix Suns fans tonight, they may say this is pure agony.
My Trail Blazers vs. Suns predictions and NBA picks bet on one of the NBAâs most irrationally confident players on April 14.
Kevin Durant was right. His worst year is better than Dillon Brooksâs best year, but that does not mean the Phoenix Sunsâ biggest acquisition for trading away Durant is going to shy away from this moment. Frankly, Dillon Brooksâs delusional confidence is his most redeeming trait, though also and obviously his most infuriating one.
The Portland Trail Blazers should devote Jrue Holiday to slowing Devin Booker as much as possible. That will move the ball into Brooksâs hands more often.
Phoenix needs either Brooks or Jalen Green to complement Booker to pull off this upset and avoid the Oklahoma City Thunder. Portland is more likely to let Brooks get an advantage than Green.
That is to effectively say, betting on Phoenixâs third option is both the best bet and the Sunsâ best approach to winning this game.
In a few respects, the greatest concern with Brooks may be foul trouble. And if Phoenix advances, Brooksâs worst habit will undoubtedly rear its ugly head, but that usually comes once well into a series, as tensions run highest. A one-game format lessens that concern.
Devin Booker is too pure a scorer not to pour in some buckets in a game of this import, hence Portland presumably needing to devote Jrue Holiday to the Sunsâ franchise cornerstone. And that is part of why Brooks should score, though partly at Greenâs expense. In a very real way, every leg of this one-sided same-game parlay is correlated.
To put this simply, if the Sunsâ point distribution breaks down like this, then Phoenix is in a great position to win this Play-In game with ease. Adding the -4 to this same-game parlay should not raise it 73%.
This is what makes the Suns just dangerous enough. They may be devoid of stars aside from Booker, a year after having too many stars to function, but Phoenix still has an array of backcourt scoring to worry just about anybody in the NBA, particularly for one game.
Phoenix went 23-17-1 against the spread at home this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Trail Blazers vs. Suns.
| Location | Mortgage Matchup Center, Phoenix, AZ |
| Date | Tuesday, April 14, 2026 |
| Tip-off | 10:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | Prime Video |
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Predictions for the game suggest a competitive matchup, with insights focusing on key player performances and team strategies.
The betting odds for the game vary, reflecting the teams' current form and playoff stakes.
The NBA Play-In Tournament is crucial as it determines the final playoff spots, making every game significant for teams like the Trail Blazers and Suns.
Key players to watch include standout performers from both teams who could influence the game's outcome significantly.
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