Blazers and Suns Set for Tight NBA Play-In Tournament Matchup

No. 8 Portland looks to upset No. 7 Phoenix and advance to first round of playoffs

Apr. 14, 2026 at 2:12am

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A cubist-style painting depicting a basketball game, with the players and court broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in vibrant colors, capturing the intensity and competitiveness of the matchup.The Blazers and Suns clash in a high-stakes NBA Play-In Tournament battle, with both teams fighting to extend their seasons and advance to the playoffs.Phoenix Today

The No. 8 Portland Trail Blazers will take on the No. 7 Phoenix Suns in the NBA Play-In Tournament, with the winner advancing to face the No. 2 San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the playoffs. Portland comes in as short betting underdogs but already own a win over Phoenix this season. The Suns hope to bounce back into the postseason after missing out last year, led by stars Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks.

Why it matters

This matchup features two teams fighting to extend their seasons, with the Blazers looking to make their first playoff appearance since 2020-21 and the Suns aiming to return to the postseason after a one-year absence. The game should be closely contested, with both teams among the league's best in offensive rebounding, setting up a battle on the glass that could decide the outcome.

The details

The Suns won the first two meetings between these teams, but the Blazers took the most recent matchup 92-77 on Phoenix's home floor in February. Portland has been hot to end the regular season, winning five of their last seven games, while the Suns are hoping to have Booker and Brooks back at full strength after they missed the last few games. Blazers forward Jerami Grant is questionable with a calf injury, but the team has gotten a big boost from the emergence of Deni Avdija and Donovan Clingan this season.

  • The NBA Play-In Tournament game between the Blazers and Suns will take place on April 14, 2026.
  • The winner of this matchup will advance to face the No. 2 seed San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the NBA Playoffs.

The players

Devin Booker

All-Star guard for the Phoenix Suns who is the team's leading scorer and one of the best players in the NBA.

Dillon Brooks

Veteran wing player for the Suns who is a key two-way contributor and has been out with an injury recently.

Deni Avdija

Breakout forward for the Portland Trail Blazers who has taken a big leap in his second NBA season.

Donovan Clingan

Second-year center for the Blazers who has emerged as one of the league's top rebounders.

Shaedon Sharpe

Explosive guard for the Blazers who has been a spark plug off the bench and could be a key x-factor in this game.

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What they’re saying

“We know we have our work cut out for us against a talented Suns team, but we're ready for the challenge. Our guys have been playing great basketball down the stretch and we're confident we can pull off the upset.”

— Thiago Splitter, Interim Head Coach, Portland Trail Blazers

“This is the kind of game we've been looking forward to all season. We've had some tough breaks, but we're healthy now and ready to make a deep playoff run starting with this play-in matchup.”

— Devin Booker

What’s next

The winner of the Blazers-Suns play-in game will advance to face the No. 2 seed San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs.

The takeaway

This play-in matchup between the Blazers and Suns should be a closely contested affair, with both teams fighting to extend their seasons and make the playoffs. The game will likely come down to a battle on the boards and which team's supporting cast can step up to complement their star players. Whichever team can execute better in the fourth quarter is likely to advance.