The Field is Set: Suns and Magic Punch Final Playoff Tickets

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PHOENIX / ORLANDO — The 2026 NBA Play-In Tournament reached its dramatic conclusion Friday night, as the Phoenix Suns and Orlando Magic secured the final eighth seeds in their respective conferences. While the night marked a triumph for the home teams, it signaled the end of an era for the Golden State Warriors, who were eliminated from playoff contention.

West: Green and Suns Extinguish Warriors’ Hopes, 111–96

The Phoenix Suns are heading to the first round. Led by a spectacular 36-point outburst from Jalen Green, Phoenix dominated the second half to secure a 111–96 victory over the Golden State Warriors.

The Suns’ defense was the story of the night, holding Stephen Curry to a difficult shooting performance under the physical coverage of Dillon Brooks. While Curry kept the Warriors within striking distance in the first half, the Suns pulled away in the fourth quarter with a 15–4 run that the veteran Warriors couldn’t answer.

Top Performers: Jalen Green (36 pts), Devin Booker (20 pts).
The Result: Phoenix secures the #8 seed and will face the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round.
End of the Road: For Golden State, the loss marks the first time in the Curry era that they have been eliminated in the Play-In in back-to-back seasons, sparking immediate questions about the future of their aging core.

East: Magic Stifle Hornets in Blowout Win, 121–90

In the early game, the Orlando Magic left no doubt, dismantling the Charlotte Hornets 121–90 to clinch the Eastern Conference’s final playoff spot.

Orlando’s top-ranked defense suffocated LaMelo Ball and the Hornets from the opening tip, holding Charlotte to just 38% shooting from the field. Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner provided the offensive spark, combining for 50 points and dominating the glass.

Top Performers: Paolo Banchero (25 pts), Franz Wagner (18 pts).
The Result: Orlando secures the #8 seed and a daunting first-round matchup against the #1 seed Detroit Pistons.
The Hornets: Despite a spirited late-season run to reach the Play-In, Charlotte’s lack of postseason experience showed as they struggled to maintain pace with Orlando’s physicality.

Final NBA Play-In Results (April 17, 2026)

Matchup	Final Score	Playoff Status
[9] Hornets @ [8] Magic	Magic 121, Hornets 90	Magic clinch #8 seed (East)
[10] Warriors @ [7] Suns	Suns 111, Warriors 96	Suns clinch #8 seed (West)

The Road Ahead: First Round Schedule

With the Play-In concluded, the 2026 NBA Playoffs officially begin today, Saturday, April 18.

Eastern Conference: (1) Detroit Pistons vs. (8) Orlando Magic
Western Conference: (1) OKC Thunder vs. (8) Phoenix Suns

The Bottom Line: Friday night was about the “New Guard.” Jalen Green and Paolo Banchero proved they are ready for the bright lights, while the league’s old guard in Golden State was left to wonder what comes next. The real tournament starts now.