Charlotte Hornets vs. Orlando Magic

Quick read:

The Orlando Magic (45-37, eighth seed) and Charlotte Hornets (44-38, ninth seed) are scheduled to meet in an NBA Play-In Tournament game in Orlando, Florida, on Friday, April 17, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. EDT to determine the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs.

The betting line sets the Hornets as 3.5-point favorites with an over/under of 218 points. The Magic hold a 26-26 record against Eastern Conference opponents and 20-26 against teams with winning records, while the Hornets are 11-5 against their division.

Statistically, the Hornets rank seventh in the Eastern Conference averaging 116.0 points per game and shooting 46.0% from the field, whereas the Magic shoot 46.4% from the field. Key performers include Magic forward Paolo Banchero, averaging 22.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 5.2 assists, and Hornets guard LaMelo Ball, averaging 20.1 points and 7.1 assists.

In their last 10 games, the Magic went 7-3 averaging 116.4 points, while the Hornets went 6-4 averaging 113.4 points. Injury updates indicate Jonathan Isaac is day-to-day for the Magic with a knee issue, while the...