Published April 17, 2026 at 7:00 AM | By Samuel Zwane, Sports Reporter
The NBA Eastern Conference Play-In Tournament resumes Friday with a high-stakes matchup that will determine the eighth seed entering the first round: the Charlotte Hornets visit the Orlando Magic in a single-elimination game. The winner secures the final guaranteed playoff spot in the East; the loser’s season ends.
Charlotte (44-38) arrives having already won a play-in game, defeating the Miami Heat 127-126 on Tuesday in one of the tournament’s most dramatic finishes. The Hornets are favored by 3.5 points, with win probability models giving them roughly a 60% chance of advancing. For Upstate South Carolina basketball fans — many of whom follow the Hornets as the closest NBA franchise — Friday night’s game is must-watch television.
Playoff Picture Taking Shape
The 2026 NBA playoffs officially begin Saturday, April 18, with the full first-round bracket kicking off after the play-in games conclude. The Oklahoma City Thunder enter as reigning champions, while the Detroit Pistons — who had a breakout regular season — top the Eastern Conference as the No. 1 seed.
In the East, the Pistons will face a yet-to-be-determined lower seed, while the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, and other top seeds await their first-round opponents. The Hornets, if they advance Friday, would draw the No. 5 seed Raptors in the first round.
In the West, the Rockets will face the Lakers in a first-round matchup that pits Los Angeles’s veteran core against one of the league’s most improved young teams this season.
Warriors Advance Despite Long Odds
The Golden State Warriors earned the 10th seed by defeating the Los Angeles Clippers 126-121 on Wednesday, eliminating the Clippers from postseason contention. The Warriors will now face the No. 7 seed Portland Trail Blazers in the Western Conference play-in’s final elimination round, with the survivor advancing to meet the No. 2 seed in the first round.
What’s Happening Q&A
Q: When and where is the Hornets vs. Magic play-in game?
A: The Charlotte Hornets visit the Orlando Magic on Friday, April 17, in a single-game Eastern Conference play-in matchup. The winner advances to the first round of the playoffs starting April 18-19.
Q: Who is favored to advance?
A: Charlotte is favored by 3.5 points and has approximately a 60% win probability according to ESPN’s game projections, after defeating Miami 127-126 in Tuesday’s first play-in round.
Q: What does the broader playoff bracket look like?
A: The Oklahoma City Thunder are the defending champions, Detroit tops the East, and full first-round series begin April 18-19. Key matchups include Rockets vs. Lakers in the West and multiple Celtics and Cavaliers first-round series in the East.
Q: Why does this matter to Spartanburg sports fans?
A: The Charlotte Hornets are the closest NBA franchise to Spartanburg County, and a playoff run would bring significant interest to Upstate South Carolina basketball fans through May and potentially June.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Samuel Zwane
HERESPARTANBURG · SPORTS
Aisha covers high school and local sports for HERE Spartanburg, reporting on game results, athlete profiles, and Spartanburg County athletics. Aisha is on the sidelines every week across the county.
