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Tuesday night was a perfect display of NBA Commissioner Adam Silver’s dream when he pushed to create an NBA Play-In Tournament. The games between the Charlotte Hornets and Miami Heat and the Portland Trail Blazers and Phoenix Suns featured exciting basketball, maximum effort and matchups that came down to the final seconds.

While basketball fans walked away with a win on the first night of the NBA Play-ins, not everyone went home happy. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the biggest winners and losers from the Hornets’ win over the Heat and the Trail Blazers’ playoff win against the Suns.

Winner and Loser: LaMelo Ball, Hornets

On Tuesday night, LaMelo Ball showed the basketball world why the Hornets ignored rumors of trading him in the offseason. With the right pieces around him, Ball can lead a team to the playoffs, and Charlotte may not have survived to play another day without the 24-year-old’s 30 points, 10 assists, 5 rebounds and scoring a last-second layup in overtime in a do-or-die game.

However, while he is a hero in Charlotte today, he is a true villain in Miami. In the first quarter, he tackled the Heat’s top star, Bam Adebayo, causing an injury and knocking him out for the rest of the game. Given that the Hornets won by 1 point, Heat fans will be wondering all summer what could have been if Ball had not injured their best player. There is now a new villain in the playoffs.

Loser: Bam Adebayo, Heat

In nine seasons with the Heat, Bam Adebayo has developed into a role as the center of this current iteration of the franchise. Additionally, earlier this season, he forever cemented his place in Heat and NBA history when he had a historic 83-point night.

However, this was the fourth consecutive year the team had to play its way into the postseason. That’s disappointing enough, but Ball’s poor play made matters even worse, keeping the three-time All-Star out for most of the game. Now, he and his teammates have to deal with the fact that they missed the playoffs for the first time since 2019 due to extremely questionable play early in the game.

Winner: Miles Bridges, Hornets

After being selected in the first round in the 2018 NBA Draft, Miles Bridges has had an up and down tenure in Charlotte. He slowly developed into the team’s top star, and when he was set to cash in on his first big contract in the summer of 2022, he missed the entire season after serious domestic violence allegations.

Nevertheless, the Hornets did not give up on him and gave him a chance to rebuild his reputation. That loyalty was rewarded Tuesday when the eight-year veteran scored 28 points, hit five threes and got the game-winning block in the final seconds of the franchise’s biggest game in years. Bridges being a part of the Hornets’ resurgence is a feel-good story in Charlotte.

Loser: Erik Spoelstra, Heat

It has been a disappointing season for veteran Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra. Despite being far better on offense than many had anticipated after trading Jimmy Butler last year, Miami has largely lagged behind on defense this season. This year’s Heat was a very un-Spoelstra-like group. We got further proof of this when they couldn’t seal a deal to play another day in the fourth quarter.

Now Miami will miss the playoffs for the first time in seven years and will have to figure out how they get back to classic Heat ball this summer.

Winner: Deni Avdija, Trail Blazers

If you were a casual basketball fan and didn’t know much about Deni Avdija, you now know after the first night of the NBA Play-ins. The former lottery pick for the Washington Wizards has finally been coming along the past few seasons, but he took a huge leap forward in 2025-26 as he became the new face of Portland and earned All-Star honors for the first time.

In the franchise’s biggest game in five years, the 25-year-old looked like a superstar as he posted a near triple-double (41 points, 7 rebounds and 12 assists) in his first postseason game. For the first time since Damian Lillard, the Trail Blazers have a legitimate star.

Loser: Devin Booker, Suns

Devin Booker is one of the game’s elite scorers and has been so for quite some time. But he’s a five-time All-Star because of his ability to dominate the offense and make his teammates better. The Suns needed it on Tuesday, but their top star was unable to elevate his play in the biggest game of the year.

It was much better weather in the desert than many people expected. However, Booker and his teammates continued to fight hard to take a 10-point lead late in the fourth game.

Winner: Tiago Splitter, Trail Blazers

Trail Blazers head coach Tiago Splitter deserves a lot of credit. The seven-year NBA veteran was thrust into the top job when Chauncey Billups found himself embroiled in an ugly gambling scandal just as the season began. Despite the messy situation, Splitter guided Portland to its first winning season and playoff birth since 2020-21. It’s hard to say that he hasn’t been able to keep the job next season.

Winner: Jrue Holiday, Trail Blazers

Many mocked Portland trading for aging star Jrue Holiday and his hefty contract. Still, the 35-year-old has played very well in his first season with the Trail Blazers. But more importantly, he once again showed why he is such an impactful player in the most important games, scoring 21 runs in the team’s playoff win.

Holiday is making a lot of money, but for a team that’s yearning for the playoffs, he’s worth it in 2026.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

The 2025-26 NBA regular season has concluded, which brings us to the play-in tournament field, which was largely determined before the 82nd game of the season. Now that the matchups have been determined, it’s time to predict how the matchups will unfold.

Let’s take a look at our 2026 NBA Play-in Tournament predictions.

(8) Portland Trail Blazers vs. (7) Phoenix Suns

The Phoenix Suns went 2–1 with a +7 point differential in their head-to-head meetings against the Portland Trail Blazers during the regular season. However, it is worth noting that Devin Booker did not play in either of the two February matches and Deni Avdija only played 1 minute in both contests.

A key in this matchup will be what Phoenix gets from Devin Booker. He scored more than 30 points in 24 regular season games, but when this happened the Suns posted only a .500 record. Portland’s physicality could also pose a real problem for Phoenix, especially since several of its key players are unsuccessful. In a tight game, we’re picking the Trail Blazers to surprise on the road.

• Prediction: Portland Trail Blazers 121, Phoenix Suns 118

Read More: 2026 NBA Draft Lottery Odds, Date

(10) Golden State Warriors vs. (9) Los Angeles Clippers

The NBA play-in tournament battle between Stephen Curry and Kawhi Leonard, it’s a recipe for greatness. Since it is an elimination game, the stakes are even higher, with the loser’s season ending and the winner fighting for the No. 8 seed against the loser of the first play-in game.

Generally, it isn’t wise to pick against Curry and the Golden State Warriors in such a big game. However, what Kawhi Leonard has done for the Los Angeles Clippers recently is absurd. Over his final 35 games, Leonard averaged 27.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.6 steals per game, while shooting 37.4 percent from the perimeter and 51.1 percent from the field. Let’s also remember that he has averaged 27.3 points, 8.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.9 steals per game in the playoffs since 2015. Since Golden State is not well-equipped to stop Los Angeles where it is weakest, Leonard can single-handedly win this game.

• Prediction: Los Angeles Clippers 114, Golden State Warriors 108

(10) Los Angeles Clippers vs. (7) Phoenix Suns

It’s worth looking back at the changes the Clippers have made this season. On December 18, the team lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder by 21 points and fell to 6–21. They finished the season by winning 36 of their last 55 games, a .655 winning percentage that puts them in the same company as the Denver Nuggets and New York Knicks. Leonard has been similarly impressive. It would continue on the road in Phoenix, where he would defeat Devin Booker and the Suns to clinch the Clippers’ spot as the No. 8 seed.

• Prediction: Los Angeles Clippers 110, Phoenix Suns 103

(8) Orlando Magic vs. (7) Philadelphia 76ers

The Philadelphia 76ers will be without Joel Embiid in this one, which certainly makes this matchup against the Orlando Magic more interesting. That said, Philadelphia has home-court advantage and it’s not like Tyrese Maxey (28.3 ppg and 6.6 apg) isn’t capable of leading the 76ers to victory. That neither of these teams is all that dominant is shown by the fact that the 76ers (18-33) and Magic (23-30) both had very poor records against winning teams. What Orlando brings to the table is more experience playing in close games, and this team finished their season winning five of their last six. We’re seeing this momentum continue on Wednesday, with Desmond Benn, Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero putting on a scoring clinic for Maxi.

• Prediction: Orlando Magic 110, Philadelphia 76ers 105

(10) Miami Heat vs. (9) Charlotte Hornets

Many did not expect the Charlotte Hornets to be the No. 9 seed in the NBA Play-In Tournament this year, but Brandon Miller’s big improvements along with the great play of rookie Kenn Knueppel have them now on the cusp of making the first round. As for the Miami Heat, they cooled off with a 3-10 record before picking up two cheap wins to end the regular season. We see Miami having plenty of scoring threats to handle, which will give Charlotte fans the experience of seeing the Hornets win a playoff game on home turf.

• Prediction: Charlotte Hornets 122, Miami Heat 115

(9) Charlotte Hornets vs. (7) Philadelphia 76ers

LaMelo Ball will get his moment in the NBA Play-In Tournament with a strong performance to send the Hornets into a first-round matchup against the Detroit Pistons. Tyrese Maxey will do everything he can for Philadelphia, combining for over 70 points in these two games. That wouldn’t be enough, Embiid’s appendectomy would prove to be the reason the 76ers would suffer another early playoff exit.

• Prediction: Charlotte Hornets 114, Philadelphia 76ers 110

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

The 2025-26 NHL season is winding down and the race for the playoffs is heating up. The Eastern Conference is in flux and the Detroit Red Wings are one point out of the Stanley Cup Playoffs with 84 points and 12 games remaining. Meanwhile, the Western Conference has been sluggish this season, with the Los Angeles Kings remaining the first team with 73 points and 12 games remaining.

However, could the NHL adopt a similar format to the NBA? The league has been linked to a possible play-in tournament after success in the NBA over the past few years. In fact, a new rumor has revealed the NHL’s stance on a play-in tournament for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman doesn’t believe a play-in tournament is a good idea, despite the influence of billionaires and hockey’s most powerful people, as reported by Darren Dreger on Barn Burner. The NBA’s play-in tournament has been a success; However, the fanbase has shown displeasure with this.

There are a number of reasons why a play-in tournament is a good and bad idea. More drama would be added to the tournament over which NHL teams would earn the final berth in the Stanley Cup playoffs. It will also give teams outside the top 8 places in each conference an additional opportunity to make one last attempt.

However, there are many negatives to this, as the NHL playoff race is competitive most every season. If the NHL implemented a play-in tournament, it would make no sense to have 82 regular season games moving forward. Also, a team that is not even close to the playoffs can earn a spot if it ranks well below other organizations.

For now, Bateman believes the play-in tournament is not a good idea, and it would not be shocking if it never came to fruition.

READ MORE: Detroit Red Wings almost got a different defenseman at the NHL trade deadline

Austin Konensky is a sports writer at SportsNut, covering the NHL, MLB, NFL, NBA and college football. His work…More about Austin Konensky

The Miami Heat lost to the Philadelphia 76ers 124-117 on Thursday night, stopping the team once again in its main goal of climbing the standings to avoid the play-in tournament. There’s no denying that Heat star Bam Adebayo is sick and tired of being in the play-in tournament, as he made his thoughts known after the loss; However, this may be unavoidable.

Miami is very familiar with the play-in tournament, having finished as the eighth seed the past three seasons, and the team is looking to finish at least sixth to avoid it altogether. However, with 22 games left, time is running out to make a significant play this time around, with Thursday being a prime opportunity.

A win against the 76ers would have given the Heat a tiebreaker that could have implications for the postseason, with Philadelphia being the sixth seed and Miami being the eighth. The setbacks are having an impact on the team, as shown by Adebayo’s comments where he is fed up with being in the tournament and how the team is better than him.

via video from HeatCulture on Twitter, Adebayo said, “I don’t want to be in that situation anymore.” “We’re better than we’ve been in the play-ins the last four years.”

Bam Adebayo is completely fed up with being in the play-ins:

“Yeah, I don’t want to be in this mess anymore. We’re better off than we have been in the play-ins the last 4 years.”

“See if we can string together some Ws.”

I haven’t seen Bam so bloated in a minute… https://t.co/YxJ3nssPZi pic.twitter.com/2VLElOb0bx

– 𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙂𝙡𝙩𝙂𝙧𝙚 (@WadexFlash) 27 February 2026

Coming off a loss to the 76ers, Miami shot themselves in the foot in the first half, as Philadelphia got everything they wanted. Adebayo criticized the team’s effort, saying they “didn’t work hard enough.”

“I mean, I don’t know how to explain the effort. You could obviously see we weren’t trying hard enough to get guys off the line, take a lot of attempts,” Adebayo said after recording 29 points and 14 rebounds on Thursday, with video via Heat Nation on the X.

Bam Adebayo on Miami’s effort:

“We didn’t work hard enough, brother. I mean, I don’t know how to explain effort.”

(via @darkobasketball) pic.twitter.com/REQYiSSRi8

— 𝙀𝘼𝘼𝙏 𝙉𝘼𝙏𝙄𝙂𝙉 (@HeatvsHaters) 27 February 2026

Bam Adebayo explains where the heat has been “steady”

Although the Heat had to play without Norman Powell for a portion of the game after he left with a groin injury, the game showed another worrying trend that has affected the team. Since Miami was on a three-game winning streak prior to Tuesday’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks, not making a field goal in the final six and a half minutes of the game would result in the team losing.

Thursday was a similar day, with the Heat having a much better second half in erasing Philadelphia’s 17-point lead, even after Miami took the lead, the team was held scoreless for almost the last three minutes of the outing. Another frustration that Adebayo expressed was how “stagnant” they were.

“We became stagnant offensively,” Adebayo said, according to The Miami Herald. “We ran a certain play over and over again, and we stayed consistent.”

Another area the team needs to figure out is how to capitalize in clutch time, because when Powell was not in the game, players like Adebayo, Andrew Wiggins and especially the returning Tyler Herro needed to come up big. Looking at the team’s production on both sides of the ball, the offense has been up and down.

After taking the league by storm with a 14–7 start, showcasing a new fast-paced style of play, it did not result in a league-top offense.

While Miami leads the league with 104.9 possessions per 48 minutes, the team ranks 15th in offensive rating (114.0), while the Heat are fifth in defensive rating (111.6).

Heat’s Erik Spoelstra admits need to do better

As the Heat look to continue to challenge themselves throughout the remainder of the season, it may be hard for a fan to believe that this team can put it all together and reach the sixth seed. In addition to the numerous injuries the team has gone through throughout the season, especially to Herro, head coach Erik Spoelstra is also looking to balance the youth movement on the team and get them playing significant minutes.

It can’t be denied that the one player people are pointing towards is Kel’El Ware, who is the breakout star among Miami’s youth, as he only played 12 minutes. The Heat are 1-9 when Ware plays less than 15 minutes, with other young players getting up-and-down minutes like Kaspars Jakuccionis, Myron Gardner, Keishad Johnson and Nikola Jovic, something Spoelstra will admit the team needs to get better at.

“I’ve got to do a better job with this group,” Spoelstra said, via the Miami Herald. “We have the potential that we can see. We have the explosiveness, we have the defense. It’s a matter of continuity. And that’s what I’m here for, to help bridge that with the veterans, to help our continuity.”

“But also to hold youth accountable,” Spoelstra continued. “And we have more of them than we have in recent history, but also develop them and give them confidence. And it’s a nice balance. But again, that’s what I came here for. I want to take that challenge, and I want to get better with it.”

While Spoelstra was candid, Adebayo was also quick to point out that coaches are “trying” to adjust to the younger players’ play.

“He’s trying,” Adebayo said. “I wouldn’t say he’s fully adjusted, but he’s trying. He’s trying to adjust, he’s trying to work it out, he’s trying to figure it out. The greatest part of it is that he’s trying it out. Because we all know our coaches. If something doesn’t work, he’ll fix it right away. So it’s good that he’s trying to work on it.”

The Heat’s young status has been a balancing act

It’s been a balancing act for Spoelstra, but he has repeatedly said he’s not in the business of gifting minutes to young players. This is evident in how much time has been given to Pelle Larsson, who has been a mainstay in the starting lineup recently, and Jaime Jacquez Jr., who has been the team’s undoubted sixth man.

“We won’t prioritize anything more than winning,” Spoelstra said. “Winning will be the ultimate thing. Take it or leave it, like it or not, that’s what the Miami Heat are about. We’re competing to win. You’ve got to earn your minutes. We’re not gifting minutes to anyone. We have more young players playing in the rotation than we have in a long time, and that’s the balance I’m pursuing.”

“Develop these players, give them confidence, but also hold them accountable to our standard,” Spoelstra added. “The standard is not going to change, and we think players improve fastest when there is accountability to win, when they are not just free minutes being gifted to someone.”

As mentioned, Miami has a lot of work to do with 22 games left in the season, and although it is very possible for the team to make a run and reach that coveted sixth seed, the Heat have not shown much promise to do so at this point. However, since the team has proven the doubters wrong in the past, Miami has been given another chance to rewrite the story.

Although the team has played very well on the road. In fact, no team has played more on the road than the Heat at this point, as the roster now gets an extended stretch at home, making it a prime opportunity to turn the season around.

“It’s very important,” Jacquez said. “We got seven points out of eight at home. It will be a good time for us to go strong and win some games.”

At any rate, the Heat are 31-29, which puts them in eighth place in the Eastern Conference as they return home to face the Houston Rockets on Saturday night.

The Eastern Conference was supposed to be the land of opportunity this season, and while teams like the powerhouse Detroit Pistons and the rising Toronto Raptors have certainly taken advantage of it, the Miami Heat (31-29) appear to be stuck in no man’s land. Erik Spoelstra’s team is currently set to compete in the NBA Play-in Tournament for the fourth consecutive year. Bam Adebayo has a lot going for him. He expressed his displeasure after Thursday’s 124-117 loss against the Philadelphia 76ers.

After recording a game-high 29 points and 14 rebounds, according to the HeatCulture “We’re better than we’ve been in the play-ins the last four years.”

While the Heat are respected for their toughness, professionalism, and togetherness, their renowned culture has resulted in only one playoff win in the past two years. Injuries certainly led to the disappointing finish, but it is becoming clear that Miami no longer has the firepower to compete in the East, perhaps not even in the weakened state it currently stands without Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton.

“Yeah, I don’t want to be in this crap anymore. We’re better off being in the play-ins the last 4 years… win some games… see if we can string together some WS.”

Bam Adebayo on elimination in play-in tournament 🗣️pic.twitter.com/PaFyUTuCUR

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 27 February 2026

If the Heat are forced to go to the play-in round once again, their chances of making a deep run in the postseason will certainly diminish. Yes, the team has had success at this before, reaching the NBA Finals after starting as the No. 8 seed, but Jimmy Butler is no longer in South Beach (nor is he healthy). The organization needs to take a hard look at itself and initiate significant changes, as this is clearly not the Miami that was swimming in praise a few years ago.

Perhaps a return to the Kasia Center will turn the team’s fortunes around. After consecutive losses to the Milwaukee Bucks and 76ers, the Heat will play eight of their next 10 games at home, starting with Saturday night’s showdown with the Houston Rockets. They can only hope that the long-awaited change will come during this crucial period, as the playoffs are fast approaching.

“Win some games,” Bam Adebayo said. “Be in our environment, be in our habitat, where our fans are cheering for us and see if we can string together some Ws.” Miami is eighth in the East and two and a half games behind Philly for the coveted No. 6 slot.

The math says Zion Williamson’s injured New Orleans Pelicans have almost no chance of reaching the NBA Play-In Tournament. Dejounte Murray says otherwise. After spending 13 months recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon, Murray made his season debut on Tuesday and immediately took to social media with some bold announcements.

There will be no holidays in New Orleans. A handful of people in the organization, including Murray and broadcaster Antonio Daniels, suggest the Pelicans will make a push for the final NBA Play-in Tournament spot.

Murray posted on “Can we treat every game like a championship game and win, win, win? Yes. Can we get the last spot in them in the play-ins??? Duhhhh.”

The All-Star point guard’s postseason aspirations are, generously speaking, optimistic. The excitement after the start of the season is understandable; The reality is serious. New Orleans won two of their first three games after the NBA All-Star break and will soon have a fully healthy roster. According to Borrego, Murray’s return actually added some ‘balance’ to the process.

However, the basement-dwelling Pelicans have less than two dozen games left to overcome their 11-game deficit. The schedule is manageable, but the bigger picture of what the LA Clippers are trying to pursue is undeniable.

Murray’s henchmen are about to embark on a six-game road trip, although five of the next seven games are against lottery-bound squads looking to lose to improve their odds. Unfortunately, the Clippers have the third-easiest schedule to end the regular season. Still, the core of this team could build some momentum and chemistry that should be valuable next season, when the team hopes to compete for a top-six seed.

Pelicans moving towards stability

James Borrego’s improved starting five features two All-Star-caliber veterans instead of two rookies. At least one current starter will be replaced when Trey Murphy III and Yves Missy become available, which should be soon.

“It’s very complicated right now,” Borrego confessed. “It’s going to be more complicated over the next game or two. It’s a good problem; we’ve been waiting for it. We’ve got healthy bodies back, we’re playing good basketball, and guys are confident right now. It’s complicated, a puzzle I have to figure out night after night. I can’t make 15 guys happy, but I know 15 guys are ready to go. And I have confidence in all 15. At any given moment, it’s their night, your moment, “Maybe your quarter.”

The main points are becoming clear. Murray will run point for the next six weeks. Given the continued communication with Joe Dumars and the urgency to return to action, fans can expect the former All-Star to be in Metairie for training camp next September. Zion Williamson’s value ahead of the NBA trade deadline was a wake-up call to the sagging face of the franchise. However, the front office has found a way to get Williamson on the court and smiling, so hopefully the experiment will be extended.

Fans can expect Williamson and Murray to take turns handling the ball and setting the table to create chances for everyone else. Herb Jones is beloved by fans, admired by teammates and feared by enemies around the world. Not on Herb for not starting the game on the bench. Trey Murphy III is arguably the best player in the Big Easy, and possibly the best shooter on the planet. His length and versatility fit him well on the wing opposite Jones.

Depending on the matchup, Yves Missy, Derrick Queen and Saddiq Bey will likely alternate as the fifth starter. Bey is a tactical play as a sixth man option to boost scoring off the bench. For example, it gives Jeremiah Fear a new outlet. However, the Pelicans have played from behind too often this season. Building momentum and allowing young players to thrive against other units is the only way to keep the play-in tournament dreams alive until March Madness begins.

The guard should be the first to keep fear off the bench. Murray is on a minutes restriction right now, and the recent first-round investment means the rookie will get significant development time on the court next season. Jordan Poole is clearly out of Borrego’s metaphorical doghouse, but his potential with the team this postseason is limited. Expect Poole to punch out an average of about 20 minutes per night, depending on whether his shot is falling and passing is on point.

The queen and bay together should log about 50 minutes per night. The potential of that pair should be given time to develop. If the pool is playing a lot, Micah Peavy and Bruce McGowens are ready for a bigger role in getting the data. The Pelicans are getting serious about setting a new standard in every way. When Missy and Queen get tired or face obstacles, Karlo Matkovic substitutes the pace front court. Matkovic is still earning Borrego’s trust in small increments.

It may not be enough to clinch the final NBA Play-in Tournament spot, but this gameplan gives the Pelicans a real chance to try for an NBA playoff spot next season. Joe Dumars has arguably walked away from some sensible offseason controversy if Poole and Jordan Hawkins are among those taking a pay cut.

Murray, Williamson, Murphy III and Queen have All-Star potential. Fear is a firecracker. Not on Herb could still win Defensive Player of the Year. Bey may have been the best buy-low deal bet of the last 12 months. The outline is there. He just needs one season without injuries to light the championship fire. The next six weeks are the lowest of low-pressure situations to show fans why they should still be excited about the viability of this foundation.

As Quin Snyder’s upstart Atlanta Hawks navigate the post-Trae Young era and jockey for a spot in the NBA’s Eastern Conference play-in tournament, Nickell Alexander-Walker has emerged as an unexpected offensive catalyst. The former Virginia Tech standout has also rewritten the story of his career. Alexander-Walker is no longer just a rotational piece, he’s posting amazing statistics that will make even the most optimistic front-office executives do a double take.

The 27-year-old guard is no longer a filler piece hidden on the sidelines. NAW is a primary option, a go-to scorer, and quickly becoming one of the most compelling breakout stories of the NBA season. With career-highs averaging 19.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.2 steals, Alexander-Walker is in line for some NBA Most Improved Player votes.

Snyder saw the surge coming, but it all started with trusting him to make the right decisions, even if it meant extra attention.

“As far as playmaking, you know (Alexander-Walker) can get into the lane,” Snyder said. “He’s not your typical playmaker, but I think he’s unselfish and he’s willing to get off the ball when he’s guarded.”

Alexander-Walker is also shooting 37.2% from three-point range on 8.2 attempts per game. This amount is almost double with almost the same efficiency despite increase in other responsibilities. Hawks GM Bryson Graham, who was with the New Orleans Pelicans at the time of Alexander-Walker’s draft, bet that all the extra shooting work would eventually prove beneficial somewhere.

Snyder said, “I think we saw it early in (Alexander-Walker’s) career, and now you can tell where it came from. It’s the person he was, the competitor he was. I think at Minnesota, he really established himself as a defender and a knockdown three-point shooter, especially from the corners. We’ve tried to encourage him to be really aggressive in shooting. Even Even some competitive shots from three, I think, his confidence motivates him.”

That’s exactly the aggression the Hawks need when navigating the treacherous waters of the play-in race. With the stakes increased in each game, Snyder has found a reliable scoring option that can stretch defenses to their breaking point.

However, what makes Alexander-Walker especially valuable in Snyder’s system is his unorthodox approach to playmaking. He’s not a traditional point guard who dominates the ball, yet NAW is creating offense in ways that keep defenses off balance. Jalen Johnson appreciates someone else stepping in to ease the offensive load.

As far as Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s late 20s trajectory? Well, he arrived in the NBA with a defined skill set, worked to expand it, and now finds himself in a system that actively encourages him to do more. The Hawks took note of Alexander-Walker’s best performances and then leveraged him. Shoot the three in dispute. Get down. trust yourself. It’s the perfect home for their prime years.

And by almost every measure, they have responded. Whether that translates into a play-in berth or perhaps something else, will define the rest of this season. But Alexander-Walker’s success has already answered a question that had been pending for years. What can one become if one has the right environment and the right sound in the ears? The answer, it turns out, is a 20-point scorer on a playoff team.

MIAMI – As the game between the Miami Heat and Memphis Grizzlies began late in the game, a scuffle broke out between Myron Gardner and Scottie Pippen Jr. The game Saturday ended with the home team leading by a score of 136–120. As the Heat look to achieve their individual goals with 24 games left in the season, Norman Powell and Tyler Herro revealed what’s at the top of the team’s list of things to win.

For the past three seasons, Miami has finished in familiar territory, closing in on the eighth seed, struggling to make the playoffs through the play-in tournament. To be out of the tournament race, a team would have to be at least the sixth seed, with the Heat making progress after Saturday’s win and the Orlando Magic’s double-overtime loss to the Phoenix Suns. Miami is now in seventh place at 31-27.

At the moment, the Philadelphia 76ers are in sixth place with 30-26, and the standings may change at time depending on the results of each game. Powell acknowledged after the win over the Grizzlies how “focused” the team is on playing to their strengths and avoiding the play-in tournament.

“We want to get out of the play-in. So we’re locked in, we know what we need to do obviously… no one is going to help us,” Powell said after scoring 25 points. “It’s all on us to control what we can control as a team…to ​​do our best to give us a chance to get out of it and move forward.”

“Obviously, we want [teams] Powell added, “There’s been a little bit of a letdown as we’ve been getting into gear and getting wins. But we’re focused on how we need to play and how we need to compete every night.”

Norman Powell on Heat focusing on exit from play-in tournament: #HeatNation

“That’s what we’re focused on. We want to get out of the play-ins. We’re locked in. We know what we need to do. We’re not expecting anyone to come help us, it’s all on us…” pic.twitter.com/9yF8jHEfd0

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 22 February 2026

What the Heat’s Tyler Herro, Erik Spoelstra talk about all the time

While the Heat are trying to maximize their potential, especially now that the team is the healthiest it has been in some time, although they were without Davion Mitchell and Nikola Jovic on Saturday, it is important to get wins. Miami was also having trouble winning consecutive games to begin 2026, but now, with the offensive boost in Herro’s return after missing a total of 45 games this season, the goal is to clinch at least the sixth seed.

Herro once again came off the bench, and although he scored a game-high 24 points against the Atlanta Hawks on Friday, he was not as efficient against Memphis, scoring 14 points. Still, he’s finding his footing after losing 15 straight games before Friday and admitted that besides him and Bam Adebayo, they want to get most of the play-in play out because they’ve experienced it the most, so head coach Erik Spoelstra wants the same.

“Yeah, our coaches talk about it every day,” Herro said, talking about missing out on the tournament. “We as players, mainly me and Bam, who came here, we want to get out of the play-in. That’s our goal, and that’s our first goal. We’ve got a lot of goals.”

Tyler Herro speaks after the game about how he’s feeling after coming back from a rib injury, the team’s depth, how the coaches approach being eliminated from the play-in tournament, and more: #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/mFqiBqau9A

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 22 February 2026

If one thing is for sure, Miami seems to be on the rise offensively, scoring over 120 points in the last three games, even as the team has scored at least 70 points in the paint in the last two contests.

“I like what’s been happening offensively the last two games,” Spoelstra told ClutchPoints. “Playing a real collective game, sharing the ball, being aggressive, back-to-back 70-point games in the paint. Taking proper shots, guys are really playing the right way, and you can see it.”

Erik Spoelstra was asked about the offense not missing a beat, although the defense giving up 120 runs is not something he wants to give up every game.

“I love what’s been happening offensively the last two games, playing the real college game…”

Complete answer: #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/VaQj1lxed9

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 22 February 2026

Norman Powell on what the Heat are starting to do

Despite a current three-game winning streak against inferior teams like the New Orleans Pelicans, Hawks, and now the Grizzlies, the team has had trouble handling weaker opponents in the past. At any rate, it’s the first time in more than a month that Miami has won three games in a row, leading Powell to tell ClutchPoints how the Heat are “starting to buy into the collective effort.”

“I think now, at this point in the season, all the clutter aside, nothing else matters but winning,” Powell said. “I think that’s the most important thing. And I think we’re really starting to put in a collective effort and trust each other and work on the game. And I think that’s the biggest part.”

“I think obviously we’re finally getting healthy, you know, we didn’t have that [Mitchell] Like tonight, but I think this is the healthiest time we’ve had all year, and we just want to continue to build that chemistry and do all the little things to help us get out of these games and not have any slipups and continue to focus on our goal of getting out of the play-in. [tournament]Powell continued.

Norman Powell was asked about the Heat winning three consecutive games for the first time, and while he joked about it being a shot (laughs), he explained how the team is “starting to buy into the collective effort” and the goal of getting out of the play-in tournament: #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/5WOEXWbFUw

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 22 February 2026

Miami is now 31-27, placing them in seventh place in the East as they begin a two-game road trip against the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday.