The final two spots in the 2026 NBA playoff field are up for grabs on Friday night, with two teams in the East and two teams in the West vying for the No. 8 seed in their respective conferences.
In Friday’s early game, it’ll be the Hornets, coming off a thrilling overtime victory over Miami, visiting the Magic, who lost on Wednesday in Philadelphia.
Although Orlando has home court advantage, Charlotte has looked like the better team for months. From January 3 through the end of the regular season, the Hornets posted a 33-15 record with a +10.7 net rating, while Orlando went 26-21 with a +0.2 mark. The Magic have struggled to consistently play the kind of basketball they believe they’re capable of, with their once-vaunted defense not doing enough to make up for a mediocre offense.
Given that context, it’s perhaps no surprise that the Hornets are viewed as the safer bet to win on Friday — most sportsbooks are listing them as 3.5-point favorites.
Still, Tuesday’s play-in game vs. Miami, which Charlotte barely eked out despite the Heat missing Bam Adebayo for most of the night, provided a reminder of the team’s Achilles heels.
The Hornets led the NBA in three-pointers made (16.4 per game) during the regular season, but they’re prone to streakiness. After finishing first and second in threes by a comfortable margin during the regular season, Kon Knueppel and LaMelo Ball made just 2-of-22 shots from beyond the arc on Tuesday, which allowed Miami to stick around without Adebayo. This also isn’t a roster heavy on postseason experience — a late-game turnover from Ball in overtime against the Heat nearly cost the Hornets that game, and it’ll be interesting to see how poised the young Hornets are on the road on Friday.
Friday’s late game with be another showdown between a pair of division rivals, as the Suns host the Warriors in Phoenix.
Unlike Orlando, the Suns overachieved this season relative to outside expectations, but like the Magic, their inconsistent play during the second half of the season has jeopardized their chances of securing a playoff spot. Phoenix’s offense relies heavily on star guard Devin Booker, but he has struggled mightily in fourth quarters since the All-Star break, as John Voita III of Bright Side of The Sun details (via Twitter).
It feels like Golden State has more momentum entering Friday’s game. The Warriors have been revitalized by Stephen Curry‘s return from a knee injury, and he and forward Draymond Green turned in vintage performances in Wednesday’s road win over the Clippers, with Curry providing the offensive heroics (35 points, seven three-pointers), while Green’s smothering defense on Kawhi Leonard helped secure the victory for the Dubs. Golden State also won its season series with the Suns, taking three of four games.
Still, the Warriors will enter Friday night as the underdogs. The Suns are widely listed as three-point favorites, with home court advantage presumably viewed as a potential difference-maker — Phoenix was 25-16 at Mortgage Matchup Center during the regular season, while Golden State’s regular season mark away from home was 15-26.
It’s worth noting that injuries could also be a factor in Friday’s late game. Besides missing two players (Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody) due to longer-term injuries, the Warriors will also be without Quinten Post (right foot injury management) and have listed Kristaps Porzingis as questionable due to right ankle soreness. Grayson Allen (left hamstring strain) and Mark Williams (left foot soreness) are considered questionable to play for the Suns. Even if Porzingis, Allen, and Williams all suit up, they likely won’t be at 100%.
We want to know what you think. Will the Magic and Suns bounce back from losses earlier this week and take care of business at home to advance to the playoffs? Or will the Hornets and Warriors ride their momentum – from a strong second half and Curry’s return, respectively – right into the first round?
Vote in our poll below, then head to the comment section to share your predictions!
Who will win Friday's play-in games?
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Charlotte Hornets and Golden State Warriors 47% (326)
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Charlotte Hornets and Phoenix Suns 24% (164)
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Orlando Magic and Golden State Warriors 18% (126)
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Orlando Magic and Phoenix Suns 11% (78)
Total votes: 694
That Suns -3 line is pricing in more than just home court:
1. Suns have one more day of rest than GS.
2. GS rode heavy minutes to Draymond and Steph last game, and their whole team is banged up.
3. Are they really that motivated to win tonight? They finish their year with a huge emotional high with that win over the Clippers, and proof that what they do still works. Armed with Jimmy Butler and Moody’s salary + 4 first rounders and 3 swaps if they want to go big game hunting this summer. A loss tonight means they have the 11th best lotto odds in a loaded draft; a win locks them into the 16th pick and a first-round death sentence against physical OKC along with further wear and tear for the old guard. Does the franchise really want 4-5 games of Lu Dort guarding Steph?
1. 1 day of rest? Curry has had MONTHS of rest!
2. Steph was on a mins restriction last game, Draymond has no health issues
3. OKC are the softest paper tiger champs of all-time. A hungry GSW with an on-fire Curry, Dray, KP and Horford are gunna take OKC’s lunch money.
let’s not look ahead for even 1 second! by the way…..how’s that Kuminga trade looking now?
Great! Porzingis is awesome!
Are you new here? I had no strong feelings other than “get us a player who will actually play” about that trade. You are talking to a massive Kerr hater, and Kerr is the reason why Kuminga was traded, so…Kerr sucks, that’s all I can say, and I say it almost every day on here lol
Obviously the smart strategy is to lose, and Porzingis is questionable having twisted his ankle in the Clippers game. For the Suns, Williams is also a game time decision
But competitors compete, so I’m expecting a tough game.
X factor is that Scott Foster, Tre Maddox, and Mitch Ervin are the refs tonight.
NBA doubling down on the stupidest comment of the year! atta boy!
Weird reply.
Are you saying you think GSW’s best strategy would be to win tonight?
Larry, the stupidest comment of the year?
Are you serious because there’s so many to choose from.., including a bunch by me the last few months.
The Warriors must lose tonight.
It’s the biggest no-brainer in the history of mankind.
Jacob laid it out perfectly and trust me, there’s no dummies in the Golden State Warriors organization.
Warriors lose tonight. Book it.
jacob, we know what will happen tonight. I’ve been saying it for two weeks.
The Warriors have one job:
The 11th pick in the 2026th NBA draft.
I think you laid out the scenario perfectly. Well done.
I got GSW and Charlotte tonight.
Steph looked great and healthy and Draymond looked like he was focused and the other guys made winning plays.
Charlotte destroyed Orlando in 3/4 meetings and I think they are the better team in terms of talent and coaching. I think Orlando is mentally and emotionally exhausted from the Mosley/Banchero saga. Also Paolo Banchero is not a good basketball player. The early on comparisons to LBJ were hilarious to me. He’s reached his ceiling and I think he’ll ask a trade in the summer if the roster isn’t changed.
Hornets/Pistons will be fun because it’s carbon copies of each other in terms of being bad for so long and then drafting an elite PG and some really good secondary and role players via trade and free agency with good coaches.
Me too! never go against Steph and I just couldn’t take Orlando.
raz, raz, raz… I have just one thing to say…
You’re right about the Hornets Magic game.
Since the Hornets decided not to show up for the game I’m going to watch the Woman’s soccer game. It has to be more interesting than this crap.
Suns and Warriors, who ever wins will just lose to OKC…
Killer Kowalski has it all figured out, guys! why even play the games? like…strat o magic hoops!
*matic…use playing cards.
Neither team would win more than 1 game in the 1st rd.
Based off the mins totals of the other play-in games, we know we will likely see these player matchups:
Green Booker Brooks Goodwin O’Neale Ighodaro Williams Gillespie Dunn
vs
Podziemski Curry Green Santos Porzingis Payton II Melton Horford
Curry, KP and Horford were on mins restrictions, but GSW raised those restriction numbers for Curry from 32 in the announcement, to “under 40 mins” shortly before gametime. Curry played 36, KP 28, Al 22. I think after that 4Q, we will see more of the Al/KP/Dray/Podz/Curry rotation moving forward.
Porzingis, Grayson Allen and Mark Williams are all gametime decisions.
I think GSW can win based off the momentum off that 4Q, but anything can happen in a 1 game sample.
How can so many professing NBA basketball fans not understand this???
THE WARRIORS WILL LOSE TONIGHT 100% GUARANTEED.
There you go.., all caps so you don’t miss it.
Bet the farm and the house, search your sofa for quarters and raid your kid’s piggy banks.
Remind your neighbor that he owes you 20 bucks and call your uncle for that b-day present early.
Go find the tin Coffee can in the garage and get all the singles you’ve thrown in there over the years. Get everything you can find !!
Sell your Lilly stock, it’s down $100 in the last month anyway. Get it all and put it down on a guaranteed pay off tonight.
You won’t be sorry. Joe Lacob is a billionaire. He didn’t get that way by being stupid.
By the way, if you have a gambling problem, call 1-800-WTF-FMFL for immediate and free consultation and prayer.
Always enjoy your posts Gary but Imo your 180 degrees off on this one
Players don’t tank organizations do, they might still lose (stupid KP) but it wont be by a lack of effort
One little smirk from Brooks (1st qrter) is going to send Dray and Steph into killer mode
You’re absolutely correct on this, but Steph and Graymond are a little more involved with the team than the regular NBA player.
I think they’re asked about certain guys who want to come over and their opinions are valued.
Both Curry and Green know exactly what’s going on tonight. Yes they’ll try hard. Yes, they’ll play 110% but perhaps as in the Clippers game a few Sundays ago, Greymond will jack a few ill advised threes to get the ball out of Podski’s hand because Brandin was getting a little hot and they almost won that game lol.
Congrats !
Maybe you were right (j/k) but man Steph looked so so bad
It happens, I (think) it was all organic tho
Watched it and felt sad.
But GSW with the 11th-best odds at the No. 1 pick — the same slot Dallas won from a year ago.
Hope your team gets super lucky like Dallas…
Probably won’t happen, but I appreciate the sincere well wishes.
The Warriors have had their time in the spotlight the last decade. Time for other cities to get it rolling.
At least 11th pic is better than the 15th pick. Fingers crossed they can make something happen with the roster this off-season. Seems like they need five new guys who can have an impact at minimum.
Interesting poll result compared to the actual result…