NBA Play-In Results: Suns Eliminate Warriors, Magic Crush Hornets

The 2026 NBA Play-In Tournament delivered decisive conclusions as the final playoff spots were locked in, with the Western and Eastern Conference games both producing clear winners.

In the West, the Phoenix Suns defeated the Golden State Warriors 111–96, eliminating Golden State from playoff contention and ending their season in disappointment.

The Suns were led by a standout performance from Jalen Green, who scored 36 points and powered Phoenix with efficient shooting and defensive intensity. Phoenix controlled the game early, jumping out to a double-digit first-quarter lead and never fully relinquishing momentum. According to game reports, the Warriors struggled with turnovers and poor shooting, falling behind early and unable to recover despite brief runs led by Steph Curry and supporting contributions from Brandin Podziemski.

The loss sends the Warriors into the offseason, with major questions surrounding roster construction and future direction after failing to secure a playoff berth.

Meanwhile in the East, the Orlando Magic delivered a commanding 121–90 victory over the Charlotte Hornets to clinch the final Eastern Conference playoff spot.

Orlando dominated from the opening tip, building a massive first-half lead behind strong performances from Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. The Magic’s defensive pressure stifled Charlotte, holding them to inefficient shooting and forcing turnovers throughout the contest.

Despite a strong individual effort from LaMelo Ball, the Hornets never recovered from Orlando’s early surge and exit the season still searching for a breakthrough playoff appearance.

With these results, the Magic advance to face the top seed in the East, while the Suns move forward in the West as the final play-in survivors.

Sources: ESPN, Yahoo Sports, NBA.com, Reuters