The Phoenix Suns and Portland Trail Blazers face off Tuesday in the 2026 NBA Play-In Tournament with the seventh seed in the West on the line. The winner advances directly to the playoffs to face San Antonio in the first round, while the loser gets one last chance for the eighth seed against the winner of the Warriors-Clippers matchup.
The Phoenix Suns arrive with a 45-37 record following an inconsistent stretch in which they have alternated wins and losses over their last six games, though they come off a dominant victory over Oklahoma City (135-103). Meanwhile, Portland (42-40) enters the matchup in good form after stringing together two consecutive wins, the latest against Sacramento (122-110).
In head-to-head matchups this season, the Suns have won two of three meetings, reinforcing their status as favorites.
Portland also arrives with recent momentum marked by lower-scoring games. Adding to this is the fact that matchups in Phoenix tend to be played at a more controlled pace, with the last four games played there finishing with below-average scoring totals.
The pace typically slows down and defense takes on greater importance, with both teams expected to allow at least five fewer points than their regular season average.
A high-stakes game with direct playoff access on the line, featuring two teams arriving with different momentum but the same objective: avoid a win-or-go-home scenario for the final spot in the West.