NBA (4/17) | Charlotte Hornets vs. Orlando Magic: Win & You’re In
Written by: Varun Sharma
Last Update: Fri Apr 17, 2026, 4:13 pm ET
Read Time: 6 minutes
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The last night of the NBA's play-in games is here and we've got two big time matchups to close it out. Let's kick it off with the Orlando Magic hosting the Charlotte Hornets tonight. Winner punches their ticket, loser fades into the offseason.
Let's jump right into it.
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Game Information
Matchup Information
- Location: Kia Center; Orlando, Florida
- Date: Friday, April 17th, 2026
- Tipoff: 7:40 PM EST
Key Players
- Lamelo Ball (CHA): 28.0 MPG | 20.1 PPG | 4.8 RPG | 7.1 APG
- Paolo Banchero (ORL): 34.8 MPG | 22.2 PPG | 8.4 RPG | 5.2 APG
Betting Odds
Odds via Lucky Rebel, an industry leader in the sports betting world.
Analysis & Breakdown
Dark Magician(s)
The Orlando Magic are down really bad right now. In their first play-in game they went toe-toe with an undermanned Philadelphia 76ers and couldn't even manage 100 points. Backs against the wall, a chance at the postseason on the line; they scored just 97 points.
Desmond Bane scored a game high 34 points but the Magic's two young stars just didn't meet the moment. Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero combined for just 30 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists.That simply won't cut it and it's why reports continue to circulate regarding Head Coach Jamahl Mosley's future in Orlando.
The Magic shot just 40.7% from the field and somehow their three point shooting was even worse than expected. The team went 7/27 from the perimeter and 4 of those threes came from Desmond Bane alone. Orlando's biggest problem over the last three seasons has been their shooting and tonight they go up against the best three point shooting team in the NBA.
BUZZCITY
The Charlotte Hornets went into their game against the Miami Heat with all the energy in the world. The home crowd at their back, stadium loud as ever and eyes set on the postseason. Tonight's going to be a little different.
The Hornets will go on the road tonight and look to clinch their first postseason trip since 2016 and the first of the Lamelo Ball era. As evidenced from his postgame interviews, no one wants this more than Lamelo does. He took 31 shots in their game against Miami and scored the game winning bucket in overtime.
The Hornets had the best starting lineup in the NBA this year but unfortunately that lineup consists of a lot inexperience. After a huge rookie campaign, Kon Knueppel scored just 6 points in the play-in game, shot just 16% from the field and found himself watching the end of the game from the bench.
Head Coach Charles Lee turned to his vet, Coby White. What happened next, can't be described with words. He scored 17 points in the second half, none bigger than his three to tie the game LATE in the fourth quarter.
COBY WHITE IS INSANE pic.twitter.com/4zHRAA8XWJ
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) April 15, 2026
Friday Night's Best Bets
Anthony Black o15.5 PRA (-120) | Lucky Rebel
We're betting Anthony Black again. It was a little bit of a sweat in their game against Philadelphia but the kid was once again Orlando's best perimeter defender and best option to guard Tyrese Maxey. Tonight with their season on the line, the Magic face one of the highest scoring backcourts in the NBA. They'll need their best defenders.
Despite playing just 22 minutes in their first play-in game, Black finished with 13 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals. He held opponents to 2/8 shooting from the field and had a -21.8% points allowed differential when on the floor. He was Orlando's best option against Maxey and in my opinion should've seen an increase in minutes.
Black played 13 of his 22 minutes in the second half of their last game and spent a significant time on the floor in the fourth. Jalen Suggs, the team's 'go to defender', allowed opponents to shoot 55.6% from the field and finished with a +10.4% points allowed differential.
Now looking back at the last three years, only one player has spent more time guarding Lamelo Ball. Black's seen 125 possessions against Lamelo in that time, holding the young guard to a 45.0% true shooting percentage.
Black's been great for Orlando this year and it's been in a variety of ways. Charlotte ranks 25th in offensive turnover rate and in their game against Miami lost both the turnover battle and points allowed of turnovers.
If Orlando hopes to keep up with the Hornets, the best way to do that is to generate turnovers. Black's second on the team in steals per game (1.4) and points off of turnovers (3.0/game).
I might be insane, but I think if Orlando's going to win this game, Black's going to have a huge part in that.
Lamelo Ball o36.5 PRA (-111) | Lucky Rebel
This is chalky, but it's not often you get to bet superstars with their backs against the wall. Lamelo took 31 shots in their game against Miami and while I understand they play at a much higher pace, the stakes haven't changed. A loss tonight ends your season.
Lamelo played 40 minutes in that game against Miami and tonight should be more of the same. He's been restricted all year but now with a ticket to the playoffs on the line, all bets are off .
Lamelo played over 33 minutes just six times in the regular season. and once in the play-in. In these seven games, Lamelo is averaging: 28.1 points, 9.3 assists and 6.6 rebounds per game. He's taking an average of 23.7 shots per game in these seven games and tonight I'm just betting on volume.
Grant Williams o1.5 3s (+175) | Lucky Rebel
With Moussa Diabeté possibly being limited tonight, I'm expecting an increased role for Grant Williams off the bench. He played 18 minutes against Miami and shot just 2/8 from the field. Five of those shots came from beyond the arc and tonight with a stingy Magic defense in front of them, they'll need all hands on deck.
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