Sports
Judge grants Oklahoma LB Heinecke extra year
Oklahoma linebacker Owen Heinecke granted an extra year of eligibility for 2026 after court ruling.
ESPN News1 min read
NBAPreview
Hornets vs. Magic odds, prediction, time: 2026 NBA Play-In Tournament picks, April 17 bets by proven model
TL;DR
The Charlotte Hornets face the Orlando Magic in the 2026 NBA Play-In Tournament on April 17. The Hornets are favored by 3.5 points after a recent overtime win, while the Magic look to bounce back from a loss.
Key points
- Hornets face Magic in 2026 NBA Play-In Tournament
- Hornets won 127-126 against Miami in overtime
- Magic lost 109-97 to Philadelphia
- Hornets are 3.5-point favorites
- Tip-off at Kia Center in Orlando, Fla.
Charlotte HornetsOrlando MagicNBA Play-In TournamentNBA
Imagn Images
The Eastern Conference's eighth seed in the 2026 NBA playoffs will be on the line when the Charlotte Hornets face the Orlando Magic in an NBA Play-in Tournament matchup on Friday night. Charlotte outlasted Miami 127-126 in overtime on Tuesday, while Orlando dropped a 109-97 decision to Philadelphia on Wednesday. The Hornets (44-38), who placed third in the Southeast Division, are 23-18 on the road this season. The Magic (45-37), who were second in the Southeast, were 25-15 on their home court.
Tip-off from Kia Center in Orlando, Fla., is set for 7:30 p.m. ET. The Magic lead the all-time series 67-63, but the Hornets have won three of four meetings this season. The Hornets are a 3.5-point favorite in the latest Hornets vs. Magic odds, while the over/under for total points scored is 218.5. Before making any Magic vs. Hornets picks, check out the Hornets vs. Magic predictions from the SportsLine Projection Model.
Visit our DraftKings promo code review to see their latest offers and get started.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in betting profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past eight-plus seasons. The model entered the 2026 NBA playoffs on a sizzling 23-9 roll (72%) on top-rated NBA spread picks this season. Anyone following its NBA betting advice at  and on  could have seen huge returns.
Q&A
What time does the Hornets vs. Magic game start on April 17, 2026?
The game is set to tip-off at 7:30 p.m. ET.
What are the latest odds for the Hornets vs. Magic game?
The Hornets are a 3.5-point favorite, with an over/under of 218.5 total points.
How did the Hornets and Magic perform in their last games before the Play-In Tournament?
The Hornets won against Miami 127-126 in overtime, while the Magic lost to Philadelphia 109-97.
What is the all-time series record between the Hornets and Magic?
The Magic lead the all-time series 67-63, but the Hornets have won three of four meetings this season.
