The Hornets meet the Magic and the Warriors take on the Suns Friday night in the NBA Play‑In tournament's final games [1].

Both matchups determine which team claims the final eighth seed in the Eastern and Western conferences for the 2026 NBA Playoffs [1]. Securing that seed guarantees a spot in the postseason and sets the first‑round opponent—making the games critical for teams on the playoff bubble. The winners will lock in the eighth seed in their respective conferences. The outcomes also influence betting lines, drawing attention from sportsbooks and casual fans alike.

The Hornets‑Magic game will be played at Orlando's Amway Center, while the Warriors‑Suns clash takes place at Phoenix's Footprint Center, both on Friday, April 17, 2026 [2]. Home‑court advantage could sway the tightly contested contests, and fans are expected to fill the arenas for what many call the "play‑in drama" of the NBA.

BetMGM is promoting the night with a new‑user offer of $150 in bonus bets—or up to $1,000 depending on wager outcome—for bettors who place wagers on the Play‑In games [3]. BetMGM is offering up to $1,000 in bonus bets for new users who wager on these games. The same article also provides a roundup of Major League Baseball matchups and odds, giving punters a broader slate of betting opportunities across sports.

Current odds list the Hornets as slight underdogs at +120, while the Magic sit at -140; the Warriors are favored at -150 against the Suns, who are +130 [1]. Analysts note that the spread reflects both teams' regular‑season performance and the pressure of a single‑elimination setting.

The MLB portion of the guide highlights several key contests, including the Washington Nationals taking on the San Francisco Giants, and a series of regional rivalry games [1]. BetMGM lists the Nationals as -110 favorites while the Giants sit at +100, and offers a parlay bonus for bettors who combine baseball and basketball wagers. With both sports featured in the same promotional push, the company aims to capture bettors' attention across the Friday night sports slate, potentially increasing wagering volume as fans shift from the high‑stakes Play‑In drama to the slower‑pace baseball action.

Since its introduction in 2020, the Play‑In tournament has become a pivotal gateway for teams on the cusp of the postseason. In 2025, the eighth seed advanced to the second round, underscoring the competitive edge these games can provide. This year, analysts expect the eighth‑seed winners to face the top‑seeded teams, creating potential early‑round upsets that could reshape the playoff landscape. The outcome will also influence free‑agent evaluations as teams assess the value of adding depth for a deep postseason run.

“The Hornets meet the Magic and the Warriors take on the Suns Friday night in the NBA Play‑In tournament's final games.”

What this means: The final Play‑In games will lock in the last playoff berths, shaping the first round of the 2026 NBA postseason and influencing betting markets. Teams that secure the eighth seed gain a chance to upset higher‑seeded opponents, while sportsbooks will adjust lines based on the outcomes, affecting wagers across basketball and the accompanying MLB games featured in the same betting guide.