
Judge grants Oklahoma LB Heinecke extra year
Oklahoma linebacker Owen Heinecke granted an extra year of eligibility for 2026 after court ruling.
The Phoenix Suns host the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2026 NBA Western Conference Play-In Tournament on April 14, with the winner securing the No. 7 seed. The Suns aim to return to the playoffs under first-year coach Jordan Ott, while the Blazers seek their first postseason appearance since 2021.
Trail Blazers vs. Suns predictions: Odds, recent stats, trends and best bets for April 14
The 2026 NBA Western Conference Play-In Tournament kicks off with a high-stakes 7-vs-8 matchup tonight, as the Phoenix Suns (45-37) host the Portland Trail Blazers (42-40) at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Arizona. The winner secures the No. 7 seed and a first-round showdown with Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs, while the loser must play again on Friday against the winner of the 9-10 game to determine the final playoff spot.
Led by Devin Booker, Phoenix is seeking to return to the playoffs after missing out last year. Its been a beat since Portland last made the playoffs. The Blazers take the court looking to qualify for the postseason for the first time since 2021.
Neither of these teams really expected to make the playoffs this season. The Suns have redefined themselves this season under first-year head coach Jordan Ott, boasting a top-10 defensive rating even after moving on from stars like Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal. Offensively, the burden remains heavy on the aforementioned Booker although he has seen Jalen Green mature into a legitimate scoring threat in the Association. Portland has relied on a post-All-Star break resurgence, featuring the league's third-best defense since late February. The Blazers, led by interim coach Tiago Splitter, play a disruptive defense led by Deni Avdija, Donovan Clingan, and Toumani Camara. Portland led the league in total forced turnovers. If you are leaning Blazers in this one, take note of the injury report this afternoon. Jerami Grant has been listed as questionable due to a calf strain. That is a major storyline. Should the veteran not dress, the task for Portland becomes all the greater.
The Suns took two of three meetings between these teams this season, but the Blazers won the most recent game, 92-77.
Lets take a closer look at tonightâs matchup and take into consideration lineups, injuries, and other factors affecting the line and total.
Weâve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
After 24 years, the NBA is back on NBC and Peacock, combining the nostalgia of an iconic era with the innovative future of basketball coverage. The NBA on NBC YouTube channel delivers fans must-see highlights, analysis, and exclusive and unique content.
Rotoworld has you covered with all the latest NBA Player News for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
The latest odds as of Tuesday courtesy of DraftKings:
This game opened Suns -4.5 with the Total set at 219.5.
Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on todayâs calendar!
If youâre looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
The winner of the game secures the No. 7 seed in the playoffs, while the loser must play again to compete for the final playoff spot.
Key players include Devin Booker for the Suns and Deni Avdija for the Blazers, with Jerami Grant's potential absence being a significant factor.
The Suns have a top-10 defensive rating and have redefined their team under coach Jordan Ott, while the Blazers boast the league's third-best defense since late February.
Jerami Grant is listed as questionable due to a calf strain, which could impact the Blazers' chances in the matchup.

Oklahoma linebacker Owen Heinecke granted an extra year of eligibility for 2026 after court ruling.
Does Tyler Tanner's recent video suggest he's staying at Vanderbilt basketball?
Dean Garnett scores a first-round knockout against Ciaran Clarke at PFL Belfast!
Juventus delays contract discussions with Dusan Vlahovic until after the season, raising transfer speculation.
Wisconsin's Kelly Sheffield excited for the new Big Ten volleyball tournament starting in 2026!

El 'Caso Negreira' revela un sistema pervertido en el fĂștbol español.
See every story in Sports â including breaking news and analysis.