The final Eastern Conference play-in spot comes down to a high-pressure matchup as the Charlotte Hornets travel to face the Orlando Magic on Friday night. Orlando enters off a loss to Philadelphia that cost them the seventh seed, while Charlotte arrives with confidence after an overtime win against Miami. With both teams sitting one victory away from the playoffs, Hornets vs Magic should be a competitive contest that will come down to late-game execution.
Hornets vs Magic Pick
- Pick: Charlotte Hornets -3.5
- Confidence: 3 out of 5
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Charlotte Hornets @ Orlando Magic
- Date & Time: Friday, April 17, 7:30 PM ET
- Venue: Kia Center, Orlando, Florida
- Broadcast: Prime Video
Key Storylines
Orlando gets a second chance at securing the eighth seed after falling 109-97 against Philadelphia in the first play-in round. Despite the loss, the Magic got a big game from Desmond Bane and will now return home, where they have been far more comfortable throughout the season.
Charlotte, meanwhile, is riding the emotional high of a 127-126 overtime win over Miami. LaMelo Ball delivered 30 points and 10 assists in that game, scoring the game-winning bucket and proving he can take over in clutch moments. The Hornets have also dominated this season series, winning three of four meetings, including a 130-111 blowout in March.
The difference in rest could matter. Orlando played on Wednesday, while Charlotte had a slightly longer recovery window after Tuesday’s overtime battle. That could end up being a key factor in this spot.
Key Players
Orlando Magic
- Paolo Banchero leads the offense with 22.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game. His ability to create shots in isolation makes him the focal point in late-game situations. But his lack of confidence in his jump shot is a concern going into this elimination game.
- Desmond Bane is coming off a 34-point performance in the loss to Philadelphia and provides elite perimeter scoring and efficiency.
- Franz Wagner is known for his versatility, though he needs to be better than he was in Philly as well.
Charlotte Hornets
- LaMelo Ball drives the Charlotte offense with 7.1 assists per game and just posted a 30-point, 10-assist outing in the previous play-in game.
- Brandon Miller averages 20.2 points per game and offers consistent scoring on the wing.
- Miles Bridges added 28 points in the win over Miami, made the game-winning block at the buzzer, and remains a key secondary scorer and rebounder.
Stat Comparison
| Stat | Hornets | Magic |
|---|---|---|
| Points per game | 116.0 | 115.7 |
| Team Field Goal % | 46% | 46% |
| Rebounds per game | 46.1 | 43.4 |
| Assists per game | 26.3 | 26.5 |
Head-to-Head & Betting Trends
- Charlotte won 3 of 4 meetings this season, including two double-digit victories.
- Charlotte is an NBA-best 50-33 against the spread this year.
- Orlando has a 38-45 record against the spread entering this play-in matchup.
Hornets vs Magic Model Projection
- Score Projection: Hornets 115 – Magic 108
- Win Probability: Hornets 53%, Magic 47%
Charlotte has had the upper hand in this matchup during the season, largely due to their perimeter shooting and pace. And I think that is going to continue in this play-in tournament finale, thanks to Charlotte’s huge advantage in jump shooting. Banchero looked legitimately scared to pull the trigger from the perimeter against Philly and his lack of confidence out there is a major issue against a Charlotte team with a ton of outside shooters. I’ll lay the points with Charlotte, who should get into the playoffs to face the Detroit Pistons.
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