{"id":713004,"date":"2026-04-18T07:12:59","date_gmt":"2026-04-18T07:12:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/713004\/"},"modified":"2026-04-18T07:12:59","modified_gmt":"2026-04-18T07:12:59","slug":"nba-play-in-tournament-highlights-from-suns-magic-victories","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/713004\/","title":{"rendered":"NBA play-in tournament: Highlights from Suns, Magic victories"},"content":{"rendered":"

It was win or go home for four teams Friday as the NBA play-in tournament wrapped up.<\/p>\n

In the Eastern Conference, the Orlando Magic<\/a> rolled past the Charlotte Hornets<\/a> 121-90<\/a> to advance and face the top-seeded Detroit Pistons<\/a> in the first round Sunday. The 31-point margin marked Charlotte’s largest loss of the season and the biggest win in play-in tournament history. This will be Orlando’s first playoff series against Detroit since the 2008 Eastern Conference semifinals, a matchup that also marked the last time the Pistons won a playoff series.<\/p>\n

Editor’s Picks<\/p>\n

2 Related<\/p>\n

In the Western Conference, the Phoenix Suns<\/a> cruised past the Golden State Warriors<\/a> 111-96<\/a> to secure the No. 8 seed and a first-round matchup with the top-seeded, defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder<\/a> on Sunday. Phoenix jumped out to a 13-2 lead and never looked back, powered by Jalen Green<\/a>, who led all scorers with 36 points. Green, who scored 35 in Tuesday’s play-in loss to Portland, had never recorded back-to-back 35-point games entering this year’s tournament. He also knocked down eight 3-pointers, tying his career high and matching the most in a play-in game.<\/p>\n

Here are the highlights from Friday’s NBA play-in tournament finale, as it happened.<\/p>\n

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