NBA Play-In 2026: Suns And Magic Secure Eighth Seeds

The Phoenix Suns and Orlando Magic both advanced from the NBA play-in tournament, sealing the final No. 8 seeds. Phoenix eliminated the Golden State Warriors 111-96, while Orlando dominated the Charlotte Hornets 121-90. Both teams now move into best-of-seven series, facing the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder and top-seeded Detroit Pistons respectively.

Jalen Green powered Phoenix with 36 points in the Western Conference matchup, hitting 14 of 20 shots. Green struck from long range as well, converting 8 of 14 three-point attempts. Devin Booker supplied 20 points, and Phoenix held Stephen Curry to 17 points on 4-of-16 shooting, limiting clean opportunities throughout the game.

Jordan Goodwin gave the Suns a major lift at both ends, compiling 19 points and nine rebounds. Goodwin also disrupted Golden State’s offence, finishing with six steals. Phoenix gradually stretched a five-point half-time edge, opening a 69-53 gap with 5:12 left in the third quarter after a fast-break layup from Royce O’Neale.

Golden State never recovered from that third-quarter surge and trailed 85-72 with 10:12 remaining in the fourth. Brandin Podziemski led the Warriors with 23 points, but the offence lacked rhythm. The Warriors’ defeat closed their season, while Phoenix claimed the Western Conference’s final playoff berth and a Sunday Game 1 against Oklahoma City.

Tensions rose late in the fourth quarter when Devin Booker and Draymond Green exchanged words several times. Officials assessed both players two technical fouls, and each was ejected. Phoenix maintained control despite the incident, closing out the 15-point victory and ensuring the franchise’s place in the NBA playoffs through the play-in tournament route.

In the Eastern Conference, Paolo Banchero scored 25 points as the Orlando Magic overwhelmed Charlotte early. Orlando built a 35-point lead in the first half and never looked threatened in the elimination game. Franz Wagner contributed 18 points, seven rebounds and six assists, driving a physical approach that Charlotte struggled to match from the opening minutes.

Wendell Carter Jr. added 16 points for Orlando on efficient 6-for-7 shooting. Desmond Bane scored 13 points and Jalen Suggs produced 12, as the Magic spread scoring across the lineup. Orlando led by 31 at the interval, the largest half-time margin in the seven-year history of the play-in tournament.

The NBA has used this current play-in structure since 2021, with four teams per conference involved. Those teams compete to decide the last two playoff places on each side of the bracket. With the win, Orlando secured the Eastern Conference’s No. 8 seed and a series against Detroit, starting Sunday on the Pistons’ home court.

LaMelo Ball finished with 23 points for Charlotte, almost all coming after the game was already out of reach. Ball scored 21 of those points in the third quarter. The NBA previously stated that Ball should have been ejected in Tuesday’s season-extending victory over Miami for a flagrant foul that was not called against Bam Adebayo.

Both the Phoenix Suns and Orlando Magic moved from single-game pressure into full playoff series through these wins. Phoenix now meet defending champions Oklahoma City, while Orlando challenge top seeds Detroit. Each team carried strong two-way performances from the play-in tournament, setting defined starting points for their respective NBA playoff campaigns.