Jalen Green and the Suns defeated the Warriors to advance to face the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2026 NBA Playoffs.
Enjoy the best of the SoFi Play-In Tournament with the NBA.com live blog, featuring all of the meaningful moments, performances, observations, news, notes and highlights from Friday night’s action.
Our slate began with LaMelo Ball’s Hornets taking on Paolo Banchero’s Magic, which Orlando took to advance to face Detroit in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs.
In the nightcap, Jalen Green led the Suns over the Warriors to move on to face the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
What we know about Friday’s games:
The Magic defeated the Hornets 121-90, as all five starters scored in double figurers, led by Paolo Banchero (25 pts, 5 reb, 6 ast).
The Suns beat the Warriors 111-96 behind Jalen Green (36 pts, 6 reb) and a series of timely shots down the stretch, extinguishing the threat of a comeback.
APRIL 18, 2026 / 12:59 ET
Saturday’s results
We’re done for the evening!
Here ends tonight’s NBA.com live blog, as the Magic and Suns earn the eight seed and advance to the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs, which begin tomorrow at 1 ET on Prime with Raptors-Cavaliers.
Your scores:
Jalen Green (36 pts, 8 3PM) is your top performer of the night.
APRIL 18, 2026 / 12:48 ET
Suns defeat the Warriors
The Suns scored 30 points off 20 Golden State turnovers, earning a 111-96 win to earn the eight seed and the right to play the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round.
Phoenix maintained control throughout the contest, leading by as many as 18 and closing out the Warriors’ last attempts at a comeback in the fourth quarter.
JALEN GREEN CAN’T MISS.
8 THREES. TIES THE SOFI PLAY IN RECORD.
🍿 WIN TO GET IN @SoFi Play-In on Prime
🍿 GSW/PHX winner faces Thunder in Round 1 pic.twitter.com/cN8PRLzvQ4
— NBA (@NBA) April 18, 2026
“I’m happy as hell,” said Jalen Green (36 pts, 8 3PM). “That’s what we needed to do.”
APRIL 18, 2026 / 12:38 ET
Phoenix looks to move on
105-90 with 2:02 to go. What will happen with the Golden State Warriors next season? Stephen Curry is 38; Draymond Green is 36.
Kristaps Porziņģis adds some juice to their future — we’ll see what they look like, as they wait for Jimmy Butler III to return.
APRIL 18, 2026 / 12:26 ET
Suns rising in the West
99-84 with 5:21 to go in the fourth quarter. Phoenix keeps answering every Golden State bucket, not providing an opening to mount a potential comeback.
APRIL 18, 2026 / 12:19 ET
Jalen Green on a heater
A personal 8-0 run for Jalen Green (36 pts, 14-of-20 shooting, 8 3PM, 3 BLK), putting the Suns up 92-78 with 7:15 to go in the fourth quarter.
APRIL 18, 2026 / 12:13 ET
Suns up after three
78-69. The Suns are winning the turnover battle 14-10 and outshooting the Warriors from 3-point range, 13 makes to six, as they chase the eight seed in the Western Conference.
APRIL 17, 2026 / 11:57 ET
Green from way downtown
Jalen Green (25 pts, 7-of-12 from 3-point range) just hit a 28-foot 3-pointer to give the Suns to a 72-62 lead.
Dropping one down from Tempe.
APRIL 17, 2026 / 11:52 ET
Suns retake control
69-53 with 4:54 to go in the third quarter. Jalen Green’s up to 22 points on the night, while the Suns have a 22-5 advantage in points off turnovers.
APRIL 17, 2026 / 11:21 ET
Suns lead at the break
50-45 Phoenix, with Golden State winning the second quarter 30-17 to get back in the contest.
Jalen Green (14 pts, 4 3PM) has it going for the Suns, while Brandin Podziemski (12 pts) is the top scorer for the Warriors.
Clock ticking…
Corner triple fading away…
MONEY for Jalen Green (game-high 14 PTS) as PHX leads at half!
🍿 WIN TO GET IN @SoFi Play-In on Prime
🍿 GSW/PHX winner faces Thunder in Round 1 pic.twitter.com/MJOGJF5frH
— NBA (@NBA) April 18, 2026
APRIL 17, 2026 / 11:14 ET
The Chef heartily delivers
Stephen Curry just delivered a remarkable steal and transition 3-pointer — he pulled up on the break, drifting to his right, off-balance, on the right wing and knocked it down — then hit Gui Santos with a lead pass in a tight window, allowing him to attack Devin Booker at the rim for a transition layup.
47-40 Suns with 2:07 to go in the first half.
APRIL 17, 2026 / 11:02 ET
Warriors battling back
42-29 Suns, after the Warriors cut the lead to eight before Jalen Green (11 pts) hit a 3-pointer and Jordan Goodwin followed with a layup.
APRIL 17, 2026 / 10:51 ET
Suns have it rolling
18-4 PHX run to close the 1Q 🔥
Collin Gillespie pulls up for the jumper to cap a strong opening frame for the Suns.
A matchup with OKC in the NBA Playoffs presented by @Google is on the line! pic.twitter.com/memnj4aD8u
— NBA (@NBA) April 18, 2026
APRIL 17, 2026 / 10:31 ET
Suns lead Warriors early
18-11 Suns with 5:00 to go in the first quarter after Phoenix opened this game on a 13-2 run.
All five starters have scored in the early moments for both teams, with the Suns knocking down four of their first 10 3-pointers (40%).
Jalen Green. PURE.
Suns open this WIN AND GET IN matchup on a 13-2 run 🔥@SoFi Play-In action is LIVE on Prime 🍿 pic.twitter.com/ni8YwGvZhK
— NBA (@NBA) April 18, 2026
APRIL 17, 2026 / 10:24 ET
Magic defeat Hornets
121-90, moving on to face the Detroit Pistons in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs.
Paolo Banchero (25 pts, 5 reb, 6 ast) led the way for Orlando, which had all five starters score in double figures on their way to victory.
LaMelo Ball (23 pts, 5 ast) was the star for the Hornets.
Detroit and Orlando spit their season series 2-2, with the teams trading wins.
APRIL 17, 2026 / 9:58 ET
Orlando hitting the floor first
Bane saves it.
Wagner lobs.
Cain throws it down.
TEXTBOOK HUSTLE BASKETBALL 🔥
Orlando pushing for a Round 1 matchup with DET! pic.twitter.com/MQTwoA50o0
— NBA (@NBA) April 18, 2026
APRIL 17, 2026 / 9:39 ET
Magic letting loose
“It just feels like all this was pent up and released by the Magic,” said Ian Eagle.
91-66 Orlando with 2:46 left in the third quarter. LaMelo Ball (18 pts) has 16 points in the third quarter, but it hasn’t been enough to make a dent in their lead.
The Magic had the second-best defensive rating in the NBA in 2024-25 (109.6), but that dipped to 11th this season (114.3). They’ve been in throwback form tonight.
APRIL 17, 2026 / 9:24 ET
Hornets scrapping into the lane
“The Magic have opened the door just a little bit,” said Stan Van Gundy. “It’s just propped open.”
The Hornets are in the bonus early in the third quarter, with Orlando leading 76-50.
APRIL 17, 2026 / 8:45 ET
Magic dominating at the half
68-37, as Orlando’s defense locks down Charlotte’s high-powered offense. After struggling in recent weeks, the rock-ribbed core of the Magic has shown up tonight.
The Hornets are shooting 31.7% shooting from the field so far, while the Magic are at 61%. Orlando has a 38-12 advantage in points in the paint.
Paolo Banchero (16 pts) leads all scorers, while Jalen Suggs and Wendell Carter Jr. (12 pts apiece) have chipped in for Orlando. Brandon Miller (12 pts) is the top man for Charlotte.
APRIL 17, 2026 / 8:32 ET
The breakaway jam
Paolo Banchero breakaway finish! 😲
Magic are feeling this half with the 8 seed on the line! pic.twitter.com/3QEuv2nxCo
— NBA (@NBA) April 18, 2026
APRIL 17, 2026 / 8:17 ET
Magic take a 21-point lead
43-21, with 10:07 to go in the second quarter. Orlando’s in control on Prime.
APRIL 17, 2026 / 8:10 ET
Orlando up after the first
38-16.
“This was a serious Magic act,” quipped Ian Eagle as the game went to break.
The Magic have a 24-4 advantage in points in the paint so far, dropping 10 dimes to four for Charlotte, as they’ve established control in the Kia Center.
They’ve led by as many as 22, holding the Hornets to 25% shooting.
APRIL 17, 2026 / 8:06 ET
A little Magic from Paolo
WATCH THIS PAOLO PASS 🤯
A no-looker over the shoulder to cap a 18-5 Magic run! pic.twitter.com/pHd4souvBJ
— NBA (@NBA) April 17, 2026
APRIL 17, 2026 / 7:57 ET
Orlando’s defense in control
The Hornets have five turnovers so far to one to the Magic, as Orlando’s held Charlotte to 26.7% shooting so far.
27-10 Magic with 3:43 to go in the first quarter.
“This team was ready,” said Ian Eagle. “And they’re playing like it.”
APRIL 17, 2026 / 7:51 ET
Watch the battle in the paint
The Magic have 12 of their 14 points in the paint so far — if the Hornets can’t contain them at the tin, it could be a long night for them.
Ryan Kalkbrenner, the Hornets’ 7’1″ center who averaged 1.5 blk per game this season, just entered the game.
APRIL 17, 2026 / 7:45 ET
Magic up early
10-5. They’re outmuscling the Hornets so far, with both Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner driving at Brandon Miller and getting to the rim.
APRIL 17, 2026 / 7:30 ET
Get hyped for tonight’s contests
The SoFi Play-In Tournament has been incredible so far. What does tonight’s action have in store?
MUST-WIN @SoFi PLAY-IN MATCHUPS.
🏀 Hornets vs. Magic for East 8-seed
🏀 Warriors vs. Suns for West 8-seed
🍿 CHA/ORL: 7:30pm/et, GSW/PHX: 10pm/et
📺 Prime pic.twitter.com/4Da3J3xFMj
— NBA (@NBA) April 17, 2026
APRIL 17, 2026 / 5:30 ET
Starting Lineups: Warriors-Suns
Devin Booker and the Suns face Stephen Curry and the Warriors in the nightcap of tonight’s SoFi Play-In Tournament doubleheader on Prime.
Golden State:
PG Stephen Curry (26.6 ppg, 4.7 ast)
SG Brandin Podziemski (13.8 ppg, 5.1 reb)
SF Gui Santos (9.2 ppg, 3.9 reb)
PF Draymond Green (8.4 ppg, 5.5 ast)
C Kristaps Porziņģis (16.1 ppg, 1.1 blk with Golden State)
Phoenix:
PG Devin Booker (26.1 ppg, 6.0 ast)
SG Jalen Green (17.1 ppg, 1.1 stl)
SF Jordan Goodwin (8.7 ppg, 1.5 stl)
PF Dillon Brooks (20.2 ppg, 1.0 stl)
C Mark Williams (8.7 ppg, 4.9 reb)
The Warriors won the season series over the Suns 3-1, with three of the games decided by four points or less.
APRIL 17, 2026 / 5:15 ET
Starting Lineups: Hornets-Magic
Paolo Banchero and the Magic host the Charlotte Hornets in the opening half of tonight’s SoFi Play-In Tournament doubleheader on Prime.
Charlotte:
PG LaMelo Ball (20.1 ppg, 7.1 ast)
SG Kon Knueppel (18.5 ppg, 42.5 3PT%)
SF Brandon Miller (20.2 ppg, 1.0 stl)
PF Miles Bridges (17.1 ppg, 5.8 reb)
C Moussa Diabaté (7.9 ppg, 8.7 reb)
Orlando:
PG Jalen Suggs (13.8 ppg, 5.5 ast)
SG Desmond Bane (20.1 ppg, 90.8 FT%)
SF Franz Wagner (20.6 ppg, 5.2 reb)
PF Paolo Banchero (22.2 ppg, 8.4 reb)
C Wendell Carter Jr. (11.8 ppg, 7.4 reb)
The Hornets won the season series over the Magic 3-1, entering today’s contest on a three-game winning streak.
APRIL 17, 2026 / 5:00 ET
Tonight’s injury report
Moussa Diabaté is questionable for the Hornets. Wendell Carter Jr. is available for the Magic, while Jonathan Isaac is out.
Jimmy Butler III, Moses Moody and Quinten Post remain out for the Warriors, while Kristaps Porziņģis is questionable. Grayson Allen and Mark Williams are questionable for the Suns.