Live Updates: 2026 SoFi Play-In Tournament | LaMelo’s Hornets and Paolo’s Magic start the night

We’re bringing you the better of the SoFi Play-In Tournament with the NBA.com reside weblog, that includes all of the significant moments, performances, observations, information, notes and highlights from the night’s motion.

Our slate begins with LaMelo Ball’s Hornets taking over Paolo Banchero’s Magic (7:30 ET, starting lineups), adopted by Stephen Curry’s Warriors dealing with Devin Booker’s Suns (10 ET, starting lineups). Both video games are streaming on Prime.

What we find out about Friday’s video games:

• The Hornets and Magic are enjoying to change into the eight seed in the Eastern Conference, with a visit to Detroit to face the Pistons on the horizon.
• The Warriors and Suns are vying for the eight spot in the West, hoping to tackle the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.

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 management on Prime.

APRIL 17, 2026 / 8:10 ET

Orlando up after the first

38-16.

“This was a serious Magic act,” Ian Eagle quipped as the sport went to interrupt.

The Magic have a 24-4 benefit in factors in the paint up to now, dropping 10 dimes to 4 for Charlotte, as they’ve established management in the Kia Center.

They’ve led by as many as 22, holding the Hornets to 25% taking pictures.

APRIL 17, 2026 / 8:06 ET

Slightly 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 protection in management

The Hornets have 5 turnovers up to now to 1 to the Magic, as Orlando’s held Charlotte to 26.7% taking pictures up to now.

27-10 Magic with 3:43 to go in the first quarter.

“This team was ready,” stated 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 factors in the paint up to now — if the Hornets cannot comprise them at the tin, it could possibly be an extended night for them.

Ryan Kalkbrenner, the Hornets’ 7’1″ heart who averaged 1.5 blk per sport this season, simply entered the sport.

APRIL 17, 2026 / 7:45 ET

Magic up early

10-5. They’re outmuscling the Hornets up to now, with each Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner driving at Brandon Miller and attending to the rim.

APRIL 17, 2026 / 7:30 ET

Get hyped for tonight’s contests

The SoFi Play-In Tournament has been unbelievable up to now. What does tonight’s motion have in retailer?

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 gained the season collection over the Suns 3-1, with three of the video games determined by 4 factors or much 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 gained the season collection over the Magic 3-1, getting into at present’s contest on a three-game successful streak.

APRIL 17, 2026 / 5:00 ET

Tonight’s harm report

Moussa Diabaté is questionable for the Hornets. Wendell Carter Jr. is accessible for the Magic, whereas Jonathan Isaac is out.

Jimmy Butler III, Moses Moody and Quinten Post stay out for the Warriors, whereas Kristaps Porziņģis is questionable. Grayson Allen and Mark Williams are questionable for the Suns.