2026 NBA playoff selections: Analysts forecast the play-in tournament and initial round pairings
The 2026 NBA playoffs commence on Tuesday, featuring the Charlotte Hornets facing the Miami Heat and the Phoenix Suns taking on the Portland Trail Blazers in the opening night of the play-in tournament. Which Eastern Conference team will advance closer to the 8-seed, and which Western Conference contender will earn a matchup against the 2-seeded San Antonio Spurs?
Our NBA analysts are making their selections for Tuesday’s contests, along with every play-in matchup and first-round series.
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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
