: Paolo Banchero led the way for Orlando with 25 points and 6 assists, while Franz Wagner added 18 points. Orlando's defense held Charlotte to just 90 points, their lowest output of the postseason.
The secured the #8 seed in the Eastern Conference by defeating the Charlotte Hornets 121–90 on April 17, 2026. This victory in the win-or-go-home Play-In game propelled Orlando into a first-round series against the Detroit Pistons. Fri, Apr 17 Magic won! : Paolo Banchero led the way for Orlando
The 2025–26 NBA season culminated in a high-stakes showdown between Southeast Division rivals at the Kia Center. While the Hornets showed massive improvement this year, Orlando’s defensive dominance proved too much in their final meeting. This victory in the win-or-go-home Play-In game propelled
: Look for broadcasts on TNT, ESPN, and ABC as the tournament progresses. While the Hornets showed massive improvement this year,
: Charlotte took the final regular-season meeting 130–111.