The NBA’s first night of play-in action was pure chaos — in the best way possible. One game ended in a blowout, the other came down to the wire, and somewhere in the middle we got an ejection, a 20-point comeback, and Cole Anthony doing his best microwave impersonation. 

If this was just the appetizer, we’re in for one hell of a main course. When the dust settled, the Orlando Magic and the Golden State Warriors came out on top, each snagging the No. 7 seed in their respective conferences. 

Now, the stage is set for a pair of intriguing first-round showdowns: the Magic will clash with the defending champion Boston Celtics, while the Warriors renew their rivalry with the Houston Rockets. Meanwhile, the Atlanta Hawks and Memphis Grizzlies still have a shot at redemption — and a chance to grab that elusive No. 8 seed. 

Eastern Conference: Magic vs. Hawks

Final Score: Magic 120, Hawks 95.

This felt like one of those games where most people really didn't know what to expect. The Magic had been quietly solid all year, the Hawks had been hot and cold, and both teams were here for a reason.

If you were hoping for a down-to-the-wire finish, well, you probably tuned out by the time the Magic’s fourth-quarter run started piling on the points. Orlando jumped out to a 14-point lead by halftime and, despite a third-quarter Hawks rally that brought the game within three, they never really looked back.

It’s easy to overlook Orlando sometimes. They’re young, sure, but they also have the second-best defense in the league for a reason. This game showed exactly why. They smothered the Hawks in critical moments and forced tough shots from deep — a problem since Atlanta finished 4-of-21 from three-point range. By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, the Magic bench found its groove, fueling a 35-14 run that slammed the door shut.

Key Performances

If anyone’s still wondering about Cole Anthony’s role on this Magic squad, he made a pretty loud statement off the bench. He finished with 26 points and 6 assists, linking up with Anthony Black throughout the night to give the Hawks all kinds of problems. Combined, those two accounted for 42 bench points on 7-of-12 shooting from beyond the arc. Talk about spark plugs.

Orlando also got valuable contributions from Paolo Banchero, who tallied 17 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists, and Wendell Carter Jr., who chipped in 19 points and 7 boards. Orlando’s bench outscored Atlanta’s 57-29, and it wasn’t just stat-padding either. That second unit gave them real momentum in key stretches — especially when the Hawks started to creep back in during the third. Depth like that matters in games like this, and it showed.

On the Hawks’ side, Trae Young put up 28 points before a late ejection stunted any shot at a miracle comeback. The story of the night, though, was his frustration. He never looked comfortable dealing with Orlando’s length on defense, and the Hawks’ 19% shooting from three as a team just didn’t cut it. When the star point guard got tossed after consecutive technical fouls, the writing was on the wall.

The result? A 120-95 statement that sends the Magic onto a first-round clash with the heavily favored Boston Celtics — while the Hawks pick up the pieces for another play-in battle on Friday.

First Round Preview: Magic vs. Celtics

So now we get the Orlando Magic taking on the No. 2 seed, the Boston Celtics. Tip-off for Game 1 is slated for Sunday at TD Garden. If we’re being honest, the history between the Celtics and Magic doesn’t carry a ton of weight here. Sure, they met in the 2010 Eastern Conference Finals, but that feels like ancient history at this point. The rosters are totally different, and this young Magic squad probably doesn’t care much about something that happened when most of them were in grade school. 

Magic's Strengths and Weaknesses

Orlando’s biggest calling card is defense — no secret there. Ranked second in defensive efficiency, they thrive on using their length to disrupt passing lanes, close out on shooters, and turn contested shots into transition buckets. They led the league by allowing just 105.5 points per game, and that stingy approach might keep them in games even when the offense sputters.

The thing is, Boston isn’t like most teams the Magic have faced. They’ve got the size and length to go toe-to-toe, and they’re not going to be bothered by Orlando’s physicality the way a lot of younger or smaller squads might be. That advantage Orlando leans on? The Celtics are built to handle it. 

Offense can also be a massive question mark. They sit near the bottom of the league in both points per 100 possessions and overall offensive rating. The three-point shooting woes are particularly concerning — finishing dead last in percentage and among the worst in attempts as well. If they can’t keep up from deep, the Celtics’ shooters might run them off the floor.

On the bright side, a slower pace might grind the game down into the half-court sets the Magic prefer, giving them a chance to leverage their defense. They’ll need Banchero, Wagner, and Anthony to find some rhythm if they want to take a game or two from the defending champs.

Celtics’ Strengths and Weaknesses

The Celtics have built their success on firing three-point shots at a record-setting clip. They lead the league in attempts, they break long-range records, and when they’re feeling it, it’s like watching a barrage of bombs go off. Add the intangible factor of having “been there, done that” as defending champions, and you’re up against a team that’s built to make life tough on just about anyone.

But, as any team reliant on three-pointers knows, off nights happen. If Boston goes cold, Orlando’s defense might smell blood in the water. That still might not be enough to overcome the Celtics though; while Tatum and Brown get most of the headlines, what makes this Celtics team so dangerous is that every guy in their starting five can make you pay. They’re deep, balanced, and don’t have to lean too hard on one or two stars to get the job done.

Regular Season Head-to-Head

Here’s a fun twist: Orlando actually won two of the three regular-season matchups. Of course, the asterisk is huge — one came with the Celtics resting a half-dozen players, and another was without Tatum. In the only game where Boston had its full arsenal, the Celtics hammered the Magic by 26 points, sinking 52.5% of their field goals and nearly 46% from three.

Atlanta Hawks’ Path to the 8th Seed

Even though the Hawks went down in ugly fashion to the Magic, their season isn’t over yet. They’ll now face the winner of the Chicago Bulls vs. Miami Heat clash for one last shot at the playoffs. The prize for surviving that do-or-die showdown is the No. 8 seed — and a daunting date with the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers.

Head coach Quin Snyder has to hope this was just an off night for Trae Young and his crew. There’s still an opportunity to regroup, knock down some threes, and earn that final postseason spot. With a 2-2 record against both the Bulls and Heat in the regular season, the Hawks will need a tighter game plan and maybe a cooler head from their star point guard if they want to move on.

Western Conference: Warriors vs. Grizzlies

Final Score: Warriors 121, Grizzlies 116.

If the Magic-Hawks game lacked late drama, Warriors-Grizzlies made up for it in spades. Golden State soared out to a 20-point lead at one point, and it looked like Memphis might be in for a blowout. But the Grizzlies roared back, tying things up in the fourth quarter thanks to Desmond Bane and a pretty gutsy showing from Ja Morant, even with that ankle clearly bothering him.

Jimmy Butler and Stephen Curry combined for 75 points, marking the first time a duo both dropped 35+ in a play-in game. Memphis simply didn’t have enough left in the tank to handle that one-two punch. A late five-second inbounds violation by interim head coach Tuomas Iisalo’s squad spelled doom, and a pair of Curry free throws sealed the deal.

Key Performances

Everyone associates Golden State with Stephen Curry, but Jimmy Butler stole the show early, pouring in 38 points along with 7 rebounds and 6 assists — his highest scoring output of the last couple of seasons. Talk about peaking at the right time. For those wondering if "Playoff Jimmy" still existed, you have your answer.

Curry, of course, did his thing with 37 points and 6 three-pointers — all with a "soft cast" on his shooting hand. The Warriors shot over 50% in the first quarter, but let the Grizzlies claw their way back through turnovers and defensive lapses in the second half. Ultimately, they did just enough to hold Memphis off.

Desmond Bane led the Grizzlies with 30 points, and Ja Morant contributed 22 while fighting through a sprained ankle. It’s the kind of game that’ll sting for Memphis. Clawing their way back from down 20, had a real shot late, and just couldn’t finish the job. That’s not something you chalk up as a 'moral win' — not at this level. It was a missed opportunity in a game they very nearly stole.

With that, the Warriors lock in the No. 7 seed and now look ahead to a date with the Houston Rockets, while the Grizzlies live to see another day in the play-in bracket.

First Round Preview: Warriors vs. Rockets

The 2-vs.-7 matchup in the West might sound familiar on paper — Rockets vs. Warriors — but this one’s a lot different than the battles we saw a few years ago. Sure, Golden State still has the same core and playoff pedigree, but Houston? This is a completely different group. It’s a young, feisty core led by a breakout star in Alperen Sengun and backed by gritty vets like Fred VanVleet. They finished with a 52-30 record and earned the No. 2 seed. Game 1 tips off Sunday at Toyota Center in primetime on TNT.

Warriors’ Strengths and Weaknesses

Golden State is a household name in the playoffs. They’re chasing their fifth ring in the Stephen Curry/Draymond Green/Steve Kerr era, and they’ve historically had Houston’s number, eliminating the Rockets four times over the past decade. They also claimed three of five regular-season matchups this season. Plus, that dynamic duo of Curry and Butler is fresh off a scorching performance.

But it’s not all sunshine and championships. The Warriors have had their share of defensive lapses, especially on the road. Curry, in particular, had one brutal game against Houston late in the regular season, mustering just three points. If the Rockets’ defenders — like Amen Thompson — can replicate that success, we might see a much tighter battle than many expect.

Rockets’ Strengths and Weaknesses

On the flip side, Houston is young, hungry, and brimming with potential. They’ve got Alperen Sengun, a first-time All-Star, plus proven veterans like Fred VanVleet. The addition of Steven Adams to anchor a double-big lineup has given them a surprising boost in their net rating. The biggest weakness is probably collective playoff inexperience — this group hasn’t navigated these waters together.

Still, that youth might work in their favor. They’re more physical and less likely to be fazed by the Warriors’ star power. They held Curry to three points in that early April meeting, showing they can frustrate even the best shooters. If they can ride that formula, they could force Golden State into tricky adjustments.

Key Matchups

• Curry vs. Amen Thompson: Thompson’s defense on Curry was borderline masterful the last time they squared off. Replicating that consistently over a seven-game series is another matter.

• Dillon Brooks vs. Draymond Green: If you love physical, borderline chippy basketball, this is your dream scenario. These two bring the heat and likely plenty of talking. The real key here? Just making sure both guys stay on the floor. With Draymond and Dillon, the fire’s always right there under the surface, and it wouldn’t be surprising if tempers flare. But with how important they are to their teams, neither can afford to let things boil over. 

• Houston’s double-big approach vs. GSW small-ball lineups: Sengun and Adams present a mismatch on the boards, but can they keep up with the Warriors’ spacing?

Memphis Grizzlies’ Path to the 8th Seed

Much like Atlanta in the East, Memphis now awaits the winner of the Sacramento Kings vs. Dallas Mavericks for another shot at the playoffs. The good news is that it’s a home game; the bad news is that Ja Morant’s ankle could be an X-factor if it doesn’t heal quickly. If Memphis can replicate that gritty comeback mentality — and cut down on those turnovers — they’ve got a legitimate chance of grabbing the 8th seed.

Whichever team emerges from that showdown gets the not-so-fun task of facing the No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder. The West is stacked, and the Thunder are no joke, so the hill is steep. But at least there’s still a hill to climb. Better than being on the outside looking in.

The Stage Is Set

The first wave of play-in games offered a perfect snapshot of what makes this new format such a hit: unexpected heroes, high-stakes drama, and the sweet satisfaction of punching your ticket to a playoff series.

With the 7 seeds set, the real chaos is about to begin. Who knows which underdog might steal a game or two — or even shock the world with a first-round upset? That’s the beauty of the playoffs: once you’re in, anything can happen. And if these opening games were any clue, we’re in for a wild ride.