Charlotte Hornets vs Orlando Magic Prediction, Preview and Odds - 04/17/2026

Game Time: 7:30 pm ET, Friday, April 17, 2026

Venue:  Kia Center, Orlando, FL 

Where to Watch:  Prime Video

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  Hornets -3.5, Magic +3.5; Over/Under:  218.5 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  Hornets -3.5, Magic +3.5; Over/Under:  218.5 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  Hornets -3.5, Magic +3.5; Over/Under:  218.5 points

Charlotte Hornets:  44-38 (3rd place, Southeast Division)

Orlando Magic:  45-37 (2nd place, Southeast Division)

Do not miss out on our expert handicapper analysis! Sean Murphy is on a HOT STREAK in the NBA on a 26-17 NBA RUN for +$7,080 PROFIT! Make sure you check out his picks and many more from the expert handicappers featured in the Shop Picks section.

Charlotte Hornets:  6-4 last 10

Orlando Magic:  6-4 last 10

The Hornets are entering this game with a 44-38 record overall this season and they are 23-18 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game on a 2 game winning streak with wins coming against the New York Knicks and the Miami Heat. LaMelo Ball led the team in points in that game with 30 while Miles Bridges was next on the team with 28 points. LaMelo Ball led the team in assists in that game with 10 while Moussa Diabaté led the team in rebounds with 14. They were 44.2% from the field, 32.1% from 3-point range, and 100% from the free throw line with their shots in that game. Their offense is averaging 116 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 111.2 PPG against them. The Hornets have an ATS record of 50-33 this season and their O/U record is 32-51.

The Magic are entering this game with a 45-37 record overall this season and they are 25-15 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game on a 2 game losing streak with losses coming against the Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers. Desmond Bane led the team in points in that game with 34 while Paolo Banchero was next on the team with 18 points. Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs each led the team in assists in that game with 4 while Wendell Carter Jr. led the team in rebounds with 11. They were 40.7% from the field, 25.9% from 3-point range, and 77.4% from the free throw line with their shots in that game. Their offense is averaging 115.7 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 115.1 PPG against them. The Magic have an ATS record of 38-45 this season and their O/U record is 44-39.

The current betting odds have the Hornets listed as a 3.5 point favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Hornets have looked good in their games this season with their 44-38 record overall which had them right in the middle of the East. They have been a good road team too with their 23-18 road record this year. Meanwhile, the Magic have looked good in their games this season with their 45-37 record overall which had them right in the middle of the East. They have looked great on their home court too with their 25-15 home record this season. This is the 2nd game of the play-in tournament for both of these teams. The Hornets are off a gritty OT win over the Heat while the Magic are off a double digit loss to the 76ers. The Magic haven't been a good road team all season and now they are going to have the home advantage in this game, but that isn't going to help with the way they have played lately. They may be 6-4 in their last 10 games, but they have been beating up on a lot of bad teams lately and have now lost 2 games in a row. They had a chance to earn the home advantage against the 76ers in that last game, but they lost their regular season finale to the backups of the Celtics and they look like a team that is going to spiral their way to missing the playoffs. The Hornets needed OT to beat the Heat and even needed a late comeback, but they looked good for a lot of that game and really took control in OT. They are also 6-4 in their last 10 games as they have been one of the hottest teams in the NBA over the last 2 months and they have some momentum on their side with 2 wins in a row now. The Hornets have a lot more momentum on their side here while the pressure is starting to build up for the Magic who could be looking for a new head coach next season if they lose this one. The best way to place a bet here is on the Hornets to cover the spread in this game. 

Hornets Magic Prediction:  Our NBA Pick for Friday, April 17, 2026 (7:30 pm ET start time) is Hornets 115 Magic 110.

Don't miss our champion handicappers free picks and expert basketball picks today.  And if you enjoyed this Charlotte Hornets Orlando Magic prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our weekly NBA predictions and previews.

Charlotte Hornets: 23-14 ATS as a favorite. 29-10 ATS after playing a home game. 14-7 ATS when playing against a marginal winning team (Win Pct. 51% to 60%). 7-0 UNDER when the total is 210 to 219.5.

Orlando Magic: 6-11 ATS versus good rebounding teams - outrebounding opponents by 3+ per game. 3-7 ATS versus poor pressure defensive teams - forcing 13 turnovers/game or less. 6-12 ATS when playing only their 2nd game in 5 days. 26-15 UNDER as a home underdog.

Charlotte Hornets:  P. Hall (C) Out For Season - Ankle.

Orlando Magic:  J. Isaac (PF) Day To Day - Knee.

"I'm super grateful for this staff. They prepare our team with the right amount of information in terms of skill work on the court and tactically, and they help me. We talk through enough things to prepare us for the game." - Charles Lee after his team’s win against the Heat in their 1st game of the NBA play-in tournament on Tuesday. 

“I think we did a better job there down the stretch, containing Maxey. He took 25 shots to get 31. I think it was just the others that stepped in, made some big time shots.” - Jamahl Mosley after his team’s loss against the 76ers in their 1st game of the NBA play-in tournament on Wednesday. 

PG LaMelo Ball

SG Kon Knueppel

SF Brandon Miller

PF Miles Bridges

C Moussa Diabate

PG Jalen Suggs

SG Desmond Bane

SF Franz Wagner

PF Paolo Banchero

C Wendell Carter Jr.

PPG: Brandon Miller (20.2)

APG: LaMelo Ball (7.1)

Reb/G: Moussa Diabate (8.7)

PPG: Paolo Banchero (22.2)

APG: Jalen Suggs (5.5)

Reb/G: Paolo Banchero (8.4)

Coaches:

Charlotte Hornets: Charles Lee (2nd season)

Orlando Magic: Jamahl Mosley (5th season)