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Read Article Hornets vs. Magic prediction: Charlotte favored to win Friday's NBA Play-In game [4/17/2026]
Updated: | First published:
Written by Dave Garofolo, Content Producer
Get Charlotte Hornets vs Orlando Magic predictions for NBA Friday.
The Orlando Magic and Charlotte Hornets will lock horns in the 2026 NBA Play-In Tournament at Kia Center on Friday, starting at 7:30 PM ET.
Based on updated simulations and today’s injury news, Dimers' advanced NBA model projects the Hornets as the most likely winner of the Hornets vs. Magic game.
This prediction follows the latest NBA Injury Report, which suggests the Magic lineup will feature stars like Paolo Banchero, Desmond Bane and Franz Wagner, while the Hornets will be led by LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel.
This article offers further insights into Friday's matchup, including an expanded look at the predicted score, best bets and player prop picks.
Hornets vs. Magic prediction: Who will win NBA Play-In game?
As part of Dimers' NBA predictions coverage—featuring a deep dive into who will advance to the NBA playoffs—our pregame model has generated moneyline, spread, and over/under probabilities for Friday's clash between the Hornets and Magic.
Our famous predictive model currently gives the Hornets a 56% chance of defeating the Magic. Our predicted final score has the Hornets winning 109-108.
According to our model, the Magic (+2.5) have a 53% chance of covering the spread, while the 218-point over/under has a 51% chance of going over.
Hornets vs. Magic odds
We have researched the best NBA odds in America for this game, which are listed here:
| Bet Type | Hornets | Magic |
|---|---|---|
| Spread | -2.5 (-105) | +2.5 (-110) |
| Moneyline | -142 | +125 |
| Total | o218 (-110) | u218 (-110) |
All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.
Hornets vs. Magic picks and best bet
After matching our predictions against the best current odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:
| Bet Type | Pick | Bet Now |
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Magic +2.5 | -110 |
| Moneyline | Hornets | -142 |
| Total | Over 218 | -110 |
According to our best NBA bets for Friday, the top play to make on this game is Magic +2.5 at the spread.
These picks are based on our probabilities matched against the implied probabilities from the sportsbook odds.
Hornets vs. Magic player props
Betting on Hornets vs. Magic NBA prop bets? We have crunched the numbers to project how each team's leading players will perform at Kia Center.
LaMelo Ball is expected to lead the Hornets with 24 points, 5 rebounds and 8 assists, while Paolo Banchero is projected to have 24 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists for the Magic.
Check out our NBA player projections for a full range of projected box scores, including points, assists, rebounds and today's NBA first basket picks.
Hornets prediction
Our model's projected player stats for the Hornets are:
| Player | PTS | REB | AST | 3PM | DFS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LaMelo Ball | 24 | 5 | 8 | 4 | 50 |
| Brandon Miller | 23 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 43 |
| Kon Knueppel | 20 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 37 |
| Miles Bridges | 18 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 36 |
| Coby White | 15 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 26 |
Magic prediction
Projected points, rebounds, assists and three-pointers made for the Magic:
| Player | PTS | REB | AST | 3PM | DFS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paolo Banchero | 24 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 46 |
| Desmond Bane | 21 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 38 |
| Franz Wagner | 18 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 33 |
| Jalen Suggs | 15 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 38 |
| Anthony Black | 11 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 23 |
Hornets vs. Magic game-day updates and essential details
Friday's action between the Magic and Hornets at Kia Center is scheduled to commence at 7:30 PM ET.
- Who: Charlotte Hornets vs. Orlando Magic
- Date: Friday, April 17, 2026
- Time: 7:30 PM ET/4:30PM PT
- Venue: Kia Center
The NBA Play-In Tournament features the teams that ranked 7th through 10th in each conference, including the Hornets and Magic, competing for a berth in this year's NBA Playoffs.
The winner of the Charlotte vs. Orlando matchup will advance to NBA_2025_179_ORL_CHA.
Conclusion
We predict the Hornets, with a 56% win probability, will likely beat the Magic in Friday's NBA Play-In Tournament matchup.
Additional tools and information for betting safely can be found in our Responsible Gambling hub.
Dave Garofolo uses sophisticated AI-driven analytics to make predictions and evaluate player performances in the NBA, MLB, NFL, NHL, NCAAM, and PGA TOUR tournaments, crafting insightful game and prop previews.
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