NBA Play-In Picks: Best Player Props for Hornets vs Magic, Warriors vs Suns

The NBA playoff field will be completed tonight as the play-in tournament concludes with Charlotte at Orlando in the Eastern Conference and Golden State at Phoenix in the West.

While the winners’ prizes are respective first-round challenges against top-seeded Detroit and Oklahoma City, you, the non-rostered reader, stand to collect cash (or its electronic cousin) if these player props hit.

Odds are via BetMGM.

CHARLOTTE HORNETS AT ORLANDO MAGIC, 7:30 p.m.

The NBA fined Hornets guard LaMelo Ball $35,000 for making “unnecessary and reckless” contact when fouling Miami’s Bam Adebayo early in the second quarter of Tuesday’s play-in opener. Ball was fined an additional $25K for using profanity during a postgame interview on the court.

His punishment did not include a suspension for tonight’s game, however, and the Magic should be worried. Ball averaged 18.8 points, 7.5 assists and 6.5 rebounds in helping Charlotte go 3-1 against its Southeast Division rival this season, including wins by 27 and 19 points since the calendar flipped to 2026.

LaMelo Ball 35+ points, rebounds and assists (-158)

Weary of April disappointments against the Heat, who eliminated his Chicago Bulls in the play-in the past three seasons, Coby White helped Charlotte get over the hump with 19 points Tuesday. That included a quick-release, turnaround 3-pointer with 10.8 seconds remaining in regulation to force OT.

White shot 5-for-8 from long range, matching his output from a March 19 home win against Orlando. He has swished at least three treys in three of the past four games while showing a penchant for connecting in the clutch.

Coby White 3+ 3-pointers (+200)

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS AT PHOENIX SUNS, 10 p.m.

You’d need an additional “f” to accurately state that one can’t spell “right patellofemoral pain syndrome” without P-L-A-Y-O-F-F-S.

At any rate, the injury that sidelined Warriors sharpshooter Steph Curry for 27 games during the second half of the season appeared to be long gone during Wednesday’s come-from-behind road victory against the Clippers.

Otherworldly efforts still are within Curry’s range, especially at this time of year, but slightly less than stellar should work for Golden State (+3), too.

The Suns frustrated Curry into 6-for-20 shooting from deep during a home-and-home split in December, but maybe he just needed to come back to Earth. Curry went 12-for-19 from beyond the arc at Portland a few days before.

Stephen Curry 4+ 3-pointers (-186)

Sure as we’ll hear “Win or go home” umpteen times during Amazon Prime’s broadcasts, Phoenix needs a big effort from Devin Booker.

The Suns’ top scorer at 26.1 points a game had 22 against Portland Tuesday on 7-for-17 shooting, but Phoenix sure needed him – or anyone – to answer down the stretch.

Booker has shown he’s capable of performing in the postseason. Given his versatility and Golden State’s need to adjust to Jalen Green – who was injured during each meeting in the regular season – expect Booker to seize the chance to shine.

Devin Booker 25+ points (-174)