The last game of the Eastern Conference play-in tournament will take place on Friday night when the Orlando Magic host the Charlotte Hornets with the eighth and final playoff seed at stake. The winner advances to face top-seeded Detroit in round one of the playoffs, while the loser is eliminated. Charlotte stayed alive by beating Miami in overtime on Tuesday; Orlando lost the No. 7 vs. No. 8 game at Philadelphia on Wednesday.

These two Southeast Division rivals squared off four times during the regular season, with Charlotte winning on three occasions. The Magic took the first game back in October only to lose each of the next three encounters. They most recently squared off on March 19 in Charlotte, where the Hornets rolled 130-111.

The Hornets are 3.5-point favourites to win on the NBA odds, with the total set at 218.5.

Hornets vs. Magic NBA Betting Odds

This is the fifth consecutive point spread involving these teams during the 2025-26 campaign that sits between -3.5 and -5.5. This time, however, it is the visiting side that is favoured. Orlando was a -4 and -5.5 favourite in its pair of home games; Charlotte was a -3.5 and -5.5 favourite when it twice had home-court advantage. Regardless of how well or poorly either club is playing at the moment, a shift all the way to -3.5 in the visitors’ favour is massive.

The Hornets are 0-4 against the spread in their last four games. The Magic are 3-1 ATS in their last four at home and 5-3 ATS in the last eight head-to-head matchups. As for the over/under, the under is 3-1 in Charlotte’s last four overall, 3-0 in Orlando’s last three and 6-2 in the last eight meetings between the two. 

Charlotte Hornets

Charlotte is coming off an emotional and physical battle with Miami in the No. 9 vs. No. 10 game, surviving 127-126 in a must-win situation. Two days off will be useful, but that performance still does not inspire much confidence. It should be noted that Heat big man Bam Adebayo logged just 11 minutes before exiting with a lower-back injury – and the Hornets still almost lost.

LaMelo Ball, whose controversial takedown of Adebayo led to the injury – went a horrendous 2-for-16 from three-point range during Tuesday’s contest. Ball struggled against Orlando in the four regular-season meetings, averaging only 18.8 ppg on 34.3 percent shooting from deep.

Orlando Magic

The Magic compiled a disappointing 7-9 record in their last 16 regular-season contests and then lost again on Wednesday. Still, hope should not be lost for Orlando. Home-court advantage could be a factor, as this team went 25-15 at the Kia Center during the regular season compared to 19-20 on the road.

On the heels of a six-game skid in March, Orlando won five of its last six regular-season contests – a stretch that featured victories over Detroit and Minnesota. The Magic fought hard in Philadelphia earlier this week, too. It was a one-point margin with eight minutes remaining before Philly pulled away just a bit at the very end. Franz Wagner is healthy now and has scored at least 20 points in two of the last three games.

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Hornets vs. Magic?

A battle-tested Charlotte squad may have just enough to pull out a win, but the value is on Orlando as a considerable home underdog. The Magic are 3-1 against the spread in their last four home games and 5-3 ATS in the last eight head-to-head matchups with the Hornets. Charlotte is 0-4 ATS in its last four overall. Let’s go with the Hornets to edge it 109-107.

HORNETS

Away

109

MAGIC

Home

107

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