2026 NBA Play-In Tournament Recap: Suns Eliminate Warriors, Magic Send Hornets Home
The 2026 SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament is officially in the books, and it delivered one of the most dramatic and memorable editions in the event’s short but electric history. Over four days from April 14 through April 17, eight teams fought for four spots in the NBA Playoffs. By the time the dust settled on Friday night, the Phoenix Suns and Orlando Magic had punched their tickets to the postseason — while the Golden State Warriors and Charlotte Hornets were sent home. Here is everything you need to know about how it all went down and what comes next.
What Is the NBA Play-In Tournament and How Does It Work
The NBA Play-In Tournament was introduced during the 2020-21 season as a way to give more teams a shot at the postseason. Every year, the teams that finish seventh through tenth in each conference compete in a short elimination-style bracket for the final two playoff seeds in each conference.
The format works like this. The seventh and eighth seeds play each other, and the winner automatically earns a playoff berth. The loser gets another chance. The ninth and tenth seeds also play each other, and the winner stays alive while the loser goes home. Then, the loser of the 7-versus-8 game plays the winner of the 9-versus-10 game in a final elimination matchup, with the winner earning the last remaining playoff seed in that conference. It is high-stakes, winner-advance-or-go-home basketball at its most intense, and the 2026 version did not disappoint.
How the 2026 Play-In Unfolded Night by Night
Tuesday, April 14 — Opening Night Drama
The Play-In opened on Tuesday, April 14, and immediately produced fireworks. In the East, the ninth-seeded Charlotte Hornets faced the tenth-seeded Miami Heat in an absolute thriller. The Hornets won 127-126 in overtime, with LaMelo Ball delivering a game-winning layup in the final seconds of the extra period to keep Charlotte’s season alive. Miami was eliminated on the spot.
In the West on that same night, the eighth-seeded Portland Trail Blazers took on the seventh-seeded Phoenix Suns. Portland pulled off a 114-110 upset, knocking the Suns down to the loser’s bracket and earning the West’s seventh playoff seed. The Suns now had their backs against the wall.
Wednesday, April 15 — Warriors and 76ers Stay Alive
Wednesday brought two more do-or-die matchups. In the East, the seventh-seeded Philadelphia 76ers defeated the eighth-seeded Orlando Magic 109-97, claiming the East’s seventh playoff seed and forcing the Magic into a Friday elimination game against Charlotte. In the West, in what would become one of the most thrilling games of the entire tournament, the tenth-seeded Golden State Warriors stunned the ninth-seeded LA Clippers 126-121.
Steph Curry was virtually unstoppable in the second half, dropping 27 points after halftime in what felt like a vintage performance. Al Horford chipped in with four timely three-pointers, Kristaps Porzingis posted 20 points, and Draymond Green made two critical defensive plays in the final minute to seal the victory. The Clippers were sent home, and the Warriors lived to fight another day.
Friday, April 17 — The Finals That Determined Everything
Friday night was the climax of the entire tournament. Two win-or-go-home games aired on Amazon Prime, and both ended in decisive fashion.
In the East, the Orlando Magic hosted the Charlotte Hornets at 7:30 PM ET. Orlando dominated from start to finish, routing Charlotte 121-90 in a 31-point blowout that became the largest margin of victory in Play-In Tournament history. The Magic were relentless on both ends of the floor, and the Hornets — who had survived so many close calls throughout the tournament — had no answer. Charlotte’s season was over.
In the West, the Golden State Warriors traveled to Phoenix to face the Suns at 10 PM ET. This was the marquee matchup of the entire Play-In — a legacy franchise trying to extend its season one more night against a hungry Suns team with everything to prove.
Warriors vs. Suns — A Detailed Look at the Game That Ended Golden State’s Season
The Warriors versus Suns game on Friday night was must-watch television, and it told the story of two teams headed in completely different directions.
Phoenix came out hot and never let the Warriors get comfortable. Jalen Green was absolutely sensational, finishing with 36 points on 14-of-20 shooting, including 8-of-14 from three-point range. That three-point total tied the all-time Play-In Tournament record. He scored in every critical moment, extended the Suns’ lead every time Golden State threatened, and gave Phoenix a go-to scorer that the Warriors had no answer for.
Devin Booker added to the damage in the mid-range, hitting several big shots to keep the Suns’ cushion comfortable throughout the second half. Dillon Brooks provided energy and toughness, helping Phoenix control the physical tone of the game.
For Golden State, the night told a painful story. Stephen Curry, who had been so brilliant just 48 hours earlier against the Clippers, finished with only 17 points on a miserable 4-of-16 shooting performance. The Warriors had clearly expended enormous energy in their miracle comeback against the Clippers and simply had nothing left in the tank to compete with a rested Phoenix squad.
The Suns led by as many as 18 points and, while the Warriors made a brief push in the fourth quarter with Curry hitting back-to-back three-pointers to cut the deficit to seven, Phoenix responded every time. With 1:04 remaining and the Warriors down 16, Draymond Green was ejected following an altercation with Devin Booker. Steve Kerr then pulled Curry from the game, and the two shared a quiet moment on the sideline that felt like it could have been a goodbye. The final score was Suns 111, Warriors 96.
Golden State’s season was over. The Suns had earned the West’s eighth playoff seed.
Hornets vs. Magic — The Blowout That Shocked the East
The Magic versus Hornets game in Orlando was supposed to be competitive. Charlotte had proven all tournament long that they could play in tight games and find ways to win. They had survived overtime against Miami on Tuesday and had shown remarkable resilience throughout the season.
But on Friday night, Orlando had a different plan entirely. The Magic came out with an intensity and focus that the Hornets simply could not match. The 121-90 final score was a statement performance by Orlando, who outplayed Charlotte in every phase of the game. The 31-point margin was not only the largest blowout in Play-In history but also the biggest loss Charlotte had suffered all season.
The Magic’s defense was suffocating, their offense was efficient, and the Hornets never got into a rhythm. LaMelo Ball, who had been Charlotte’s hero throughout the tournament, was unable to replicate the heroics from earlier in the week. The Hornets’ magical run through the Play-In came to an end, and their season was officially over.
For Orlando, the victory meant a trip to the first round of the NBA Playoffs and a date with the number one seed, the Detroit Pistons.
Where the Warriors Go From Here
The end of Golden State’s season raises enormous questions about the future of one of the most decorated dynasties in NBA history. Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and the Warriors core have won four championships together, but time is catching up with this group.
Green’s ejection in the final minutes against Phoenix — and the emotional bench moment he shared with Curry and Kerr — felt loaded with meaning. Questions about whether this was the last time these veterans play together in a Warriors uniform will dominate the offseason conversation in San Francisco. With a 37-45 regular season record and an early Play-In exit, the Warriors face serious decisions about their roster, their direction, and what comes next for a franchise that has defined an entire era of NBA basketball.
The 2026 NBA Playoffs First Round — What Comes Next
With the Play-In complete, the full first round bracket is now set. The Phoenix Suns will face the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder, with Game 1 tipping off Sunday, April 19, at 3:30 PM ET on ABC. The Orlando Magic will take on the number one seed in the East, the Detroit Pistons, also on Sunday at 6:30 PM ET on NBC and Peacock.
The full Eastern Conference first round matchups are: Detroit Pistons versus Orlando Magic, Boston Celtics versus Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knicks versus Atlanta Hawks, and Cleveland Cavaliers versus Toronto Raptors.
The full Western Conference first round matchups are: Oklahoma City Thunder versus Phoenix Suns, San Antonio Spurs versus Portland Trail Blazers, Denver Nuggets versus Minnesota Timberwolves, and Los Angeles Lakers versus Houston Rockets.
Every series is a best-of-seven. The first round could run through May 3. The NBA Finals are scheduled to begin on Wednesday, June 3, and will be broadcast exclusively on ABC.
Why the 2026 Play-In Tournament Was Special
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and league officials have consistently defended the Play-In Tournament as one of the best additions to the league’s postseason structure in years, and the 2026 edition proved exactly why. This was the first time in Play-In history that three of the first four games were decided by five points or fewer. All three of those tight games featured lead changes in the final minute. The drama was real, the stakes were enormous, and the basketball was elite.
LaMelo Ball’s buzzer-beater in overtime against Miami on opening night, Steph Curry’s second-half explosion against the Clippers on Wednesday, Jalen Green’s record-tying performance against Golden State, and the Magic’s dominant statement game against Charlotte all happened within four days. It is difficult to argue that any other four-day stretch in the basketball calendar delivers that level of sustained drama.
Final Thoughts
The 2026 NBA Play-In Tournament gave fans exactly what they come to basketball for — high-stakes moments, unexpected heroes, and the gut-punch reality that every game matters. The Phoenix Suns earned their spot with a dominant performance from Jalen Green. The Orlando Magic earned theirs with a historically dominant blowout win. The Golden State Warriors and Charlotte Hornets will spend the offseason wondering what could have been.
Now, the real business begins. The NBA Playoffs are underway, and with matchups like Thunder versus Suns and Magic versus Pistons starting this Sunday, the drama is only going to get bigger from here.
