The Charlotte Hornets and the Orlando Magic are not ready to call it a season just yet, but only one of them is moving on to the playoffs. Will the Hornets get the job done? Or, will the Magic keep it going with a win?

Catch this game live on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at 7:30 AM, Manila time.

Away: Charlotte Hornets 

Projected Starting Five:

  • LaMelo Ball
  • Kon Knueppel
  • Brandon Miller
  • Miles Bridges
  • Moussa Diabate (Questionable)

The Hornets are a team on the rise, and regardless of the outcome of this Saturday’s game, they have already sent a loud message to the rest of the league. But they don’t want to stop just yet after a stunning 127-126 stunner against the Miami Heat on Wednesday. LaMelo Ball came through for the Hornets against the Heat with 30 points, including the game-winner. 

Miles Bridges had 28 points and a game-saving block. What was missing for Charlotte was the production of Kon Knueppel, who only had six points on a brutal 2/12 shooting from the fielda nd 0/6 from deep. The good news for Knueppel is that he can’t be cold forever and his big moment could come here in this matchup versus the floundering Magic. In four games against Orlando in the regular season, the former Duke Blue Devils star shot 43.5% from the 3-point region on an average of 5.8 attempts from there.

Home: Orlando Magic 

Projected Starting Five:

  • Jalen Suggs
  • Desmond Bane
  • Franz Wagner
  • Paolo Banchero
  • Wendell Carter Jr.

Orlando wasted a golden opportunity to beat a Joel Embiid-less Philadelphia 76ers, but they fumbled it in a 109-97 loss. Jamahl Mosley will be coaching this game against the Hornets with a warm seat. Paolo Banchero is also not going to beat the Ben Simmons 2.0 allegations if he repeats the performance he had in the Sixers game, where he scored 18 points on a salty 7/22 shooting from the field and 0/5 from deep.

 But like the case with Knueppel, his shots could start falling again after a lackluster showing. Meanwhile, the microscope is also on Jalen Suggs after he built a house with a 1/9 shooting and finished with just four points in the loss to the 76ers. Orlando has what it takes to beat a team like the Hornets, but the Magic will have to beat themselves first, as they have repeatedly shot themselves in the foot this season.

Picks

Spread: Charlotte Hornets (-3.0)

Over/Under: Over(218.0)