NBA Play-In: Magic vs. Hornets and Warriors vs. Suns Set to Determine Final No. 8 Seeds
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Four teams face elimination Friday as the NBA play-in tournament wraps up with a pair of decisive matchups.
Eastern Conference
The Orlando Magic welcome the Charlotte Hornets, and the winner will claim the conference’s No. 8 seed. Orlando dropped its first play-in game to the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday, while Charlotte advanced by edging the Miami Heat on Tuesday.
Charlotte is chasing its first playoff berth since 2016 and dominated the regular-season series against Orlando, winning 3-1 with each victory coming by at least 15 points. The Magic, seeking a third consecutive postseason appearance, would meet the top-seeded Detroit Pistons in the opening round if they prevail.
Western Conference
The Golden State Warriors travel to face the Phoenix Suns with the West’s final playoff spot at stake. Phoenix fell to the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday, and Golden State stayed alive by rallying past the LA Clippers the following night.
The Warriors took three of four from the Suns during the regular season, though their most recent matchup on Feb. 5 did not include Golden State’s Stephen Curry or Phoenix stars Devin Booker and Jalen Green. Curry enters Friday’s game after scoring 35 points—27 of them in the second half—against the Clippers.
Friday’s winner secures the No. 8 seed and a first-round meeting with the defending champion and top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder.
Source: ESPN
