NBA Play-in Preview: Who advances Tonight?
After a fun, competitive season where every team battled through 82 games, things now get real – well, sort of – as the NBA playoffs begin. No one gets eliminated tonight, but the stakes are high: win and you lock up the 7-seed, lose and you’ve got one more shot to stay alive. Here’s an NBA Playoffs – Play-In Preview where we break down both games tonight and see who gets it done – and who might be in trouble.
Orlando Magic vs. Atlanta Hawks
The first night of the NBA Play-In kicks off with an intriguing matchup between the Orlando Magic and the Atlanta Hawks. While no one gets eliminated in this game, a win secures the all-important seven-seed and a full playoff series.
Orlando’s identity is clear: defense. They rank first in points allowed, second in defensive rating, and top 10 in both blocks and steals. Their ability to create chaos and force turnovers will be tested by a Hawks team that averages 118.2 points per game.
Offensively, the Magic are led by franchise cornerstone Paolo Banchero, who averages 22.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game. He’s dominated Atlanta this season, scoring 30+ in all three regular-season matchups. Franz Wagner complements him with versatile scoring and on-ball defense.
Atlanta, meanwhile, lives and dies by Trae Young. The league’s assist leader (11.6 per game) and a top-15 scorer (24.2 PPG), Young has to be brilliant — especially with Orlando’s top perimeter defender, Jalen Suggs, out with injury. But his supporting cast, including Zaccharie Risacher, Terance Mann, Caris LeVert, and Georges Niang, has been inconsistent. Against a well-drilled Magic defense, that’s a risky proposition.
Orlando enters as a slight favorite and it makes sense. Their elite defense, home court advantage, and Banchero’s playoff-caliber presence give them the edge. Unless Trae goes nuclear, I like the Magic to lock up the seven-seed.
Golden State Warriors vs. Memphis Grizzlies
The Warriors and Grizzlies come in with identical records, but Golden State holds the tiebreaker and gets the home court. They also get a fresh weapon: Jimmy Butler.
Since acquiring Butler, the Warriors are 23-7. He adds toughness, late-game shot creation, and a secondary playmaker alongside Steph Curry. That duo is dangerous — and reminiscent of Miami’s improbable run through the Play-In last year with Butler at the helm.
The Grizzlies are a wild card. They’ve recently fired their coach and are under interim Tuomas Lisalo, who has leaned into giving big minutes to Zach Edey. While Edey’s size next to Jaren Jackson Jr. creates a formidable frontcourt, Memphis is still figuring out rotations — especially after losing rookie Jaylen Wells to injury.
Golden State’s lack of size could be exposed, but their perimeter firepower is elite. Curry dropped 52 points on 12 threes in the last matchup between these teams. Add in Brandin Podziemski (17 PPG over the last 14 games), Jonathan Kuminga, and Moses Moody, and the Warriors can blitz anyone when they get hot.
Memphis has the potential to keep it close with their frontcourt edge and physicality, but with Curry and Butler locked in, I’ll take the Warriors in a tight one.
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