Kansas Jayhawks vs. Oklahoma St Cowboys

Quick read:

the NBA Play-In tournament will determine the final two playoff spots in a double-header. In the Eastern Conference, the Charlotte Hornets, who are 3.5-point favorites, face the Orlando Magic at the Kia Center (also referred to as the Mortgage Matchup Center in the text) to secure the No.

8 seed for a first-round matchup against the top-seeded Detroit Pistons. Charlotte advanced after a 127-126 overtime win over the Miami Heat, a game marred by LaMelo Ball tripping Bam Adebayo, which resulted in a $35,000 fine and a Flagrant Foul 2 for Ball.

The Hornets have won each of the past three meetings against Orlando by at least 15 points, and the SportsLine Projection Model assigns a 73% chance of a Charlotte victory. In the Western Conference, the Golden State Warriors (126-121 win over the Clippers) play the Phoenix Suns (3.5-point favorites), who blew an 11-point lead against the Trail Blazers.

The winner will face the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder. The Warriors are a worse offensive team on the road (110.9) compared to home (116.8), while the Suns are a better defensive...