The Hornets Are Nobody's Punching Bag Anymore, and the Experts Are Taking Notice

The 2026 NBA postseason tips off Tuesday night, and the play-in tournament is about to get real. Charlotte hosts Miami in the East, Phoenix takes on Portland in the West, and the rest of the bracket fills in fast. Our NBA experts have been locked in on these matchups, and the results might surprise you.

Hornets Turn Heads in the East Play-In

Remember when the Hornets were the league's punch line? That's over. Charlotte hosting Miami in the 9 vs. 10 matchup has the experts seriously split, but here's the thing: the Hornets got the overwhelming vote. The final tally came down 10-3 in favor of Charlotte, with only Jerry Bembry and Marc J. Spears picking the Heat to advance. That's a massive statement for a team fighting its way back into relevance. When 10 out of 13 experts are picking you to move on, you know something has shifted.

West Favors the Suns Over Portland

Out West, Phoenix gets the 7-seed against Portland's 8-seed, and the experts are nearly unanimous: the Suns advance 10-3. Only Jamal Collier, Baxter Holmes, and Zach Kram picked the Trail Blazers to pull off the upset. The winner secures a first-round date with the 2-seeded San Antonio Spurs, so there's real stakes on the line Tuesday night.

The Full Picture

The East also features the 76ers taking on the Magic in a 7 vs. 8 battle, with Philadelphia getting the nod 7-6 in a tight expert consensus. Meanwhile in the West, the Clippers and Warriors clash at 9 vs. 10, and the Clippers dominated the picking 10-3.

Tuesday night the postseason gets rolling. The Hornets-Heat game and the Suns-Trail Blazers matchup both tip off night one of the play-in tournament. This is what we've waited all season for.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.