NBA Play-In Showdown Kicks Off: Warriors vs Grizzlies, Magic vs Hawks
The 2025 NBA postseason officially gets underway tonight with the SoFi Play-In Tournament, and the energy couldn't be higher. If you're a basketball fan, this is the night you’ve been waiting for. Two high-stakes games will determine who grabs the coveted 7th playoff seeds in each conference—and who faces elimination pressure later this week.
In the Eastern Conference, we’ve got the Orlando Magic hosting the Atlanta Hawks at 7:30 PM ET. This matchup is electric. On one end, you've got the slow-and-steady, defensive-minded Magic—literally the stingiest defense in the entire league, allowing just 105.5 points per game. They clawed their way through injury-riddled months, missing major pieces like Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner for large chunks of the season. But they’re healthy now, and boy, have they finished strong. Banchero's been on fire, averaging 25.9 ppg and dropping 30+ in nine of his last 14 games. Meanwhile, Franz has been a quiet killer too, stepping up big since his return.
On the flip side, the Hawks come in riding a defensive wave of their own, thanks to the emergence of Dyson Daniels—nicknamed "The Great Barrier Thief" for good reason. The guy's a defensive nightmare, leading the league in steals. He and Trae Young have formed a formidable backcourt duo. Young’s assist game is unmatched, leading the league at 11.6 per game, and even in a slightly down scoring year, he's still the heartbeat of Atlanta's offense.
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Then there’s the nightcap in the West: the Golden State Warriors hosting the Memphis Grizzlies at 10 PM ET. This one’s got all the drama you’d expect. It’s a grudge match, a familiar battle—we’ve seen these two square off in the Play-In and Playoffs multiple times over the last few years. And let me tell you, the stakes are just as high tonight.
Golden State’s season has been a rollercoaster. They came out hot, slumped hard, then made a midseason splash by bringing in Jimmy Butler. That trade? Game-changer. Since Butler joined the squad, they’ve gone 23-8. Steph Curry is still doing Steph things—crossing the 300 three-pointers mark again and scoring a season-high 52 points just two weeks ago. But here’s the twist: he also had his lowest-scoring game this year against, yep, the Grizzlies.
Memphis, meanwhile, is back in the Play-In and undefeated in this format. They're not built around just one star, but a balanced trio of Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Desmond Bane, each putting up 19+ a game. They play fast, they score in bunches, and they’ve led the league with 48 games over 120 points. Even after a shaky post-All-Star stretch that cost head coach Taylor Jenkins his job, they found a way to fight back and secure the 8th seed.
Tonight’s games are more than just Play-In battles—they're statements. Will the experience and star power of Curry and Butler carry the Warriors, or will Ja and the Grizzlies' dynamic offense push through? Can Orlando’s defense stand tall against Atlanta’s playmaking punch?
This is what the NBA is all about. Two massive games. One epic night. And the chase for the playoffs officially begins. Let the madness start.
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