Best Bets, Expert Picks & How to Watch Hornets vs Magic

• Charlotte looks for its first playoff appearance since 2016
• Orlando looks to avoid a disaster
• Keep reading for my Hornets vs Magic best bets and expert picks

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The No. 8 seed is up for grabs in the play-in game between the Charlotte Hornets (44-38) and Orlando Magic (45-37). Charlotte won three of four meetings in the regular season, but the Magic have home court in this do-or-die game. The Kia Center in Orlando will host Hornets vs Magic at 7:30 pm ET on Friday, April 17. Prime Video will carry the broadcast.

Continue reading for my Hornets vs Magic best bets as well as two expert player props for this play-in contest.

Hornets vs Magic Best Bets

• Hornets -3 (-110, Fanatics)

As many as 12 games below .500 deep into January, the Hornets were among the best teams in basketball for the last three months. Starting with a January 21st win over these Magic, Charlotte ended the season on a 28-10 run, a 60-win pace over 82 games. The Hornets rattled off three different winning streaks of at least five games.

The Magic have been quite streaky since March began. Orlando had a seven-game winning streak in March and a five-game winning streak in April, but they suffered six straight losses in the middle of March (including a loss to Charlotte). Through February, Orlando had been one of the steadier teams in the league, not going on massive swings.

With Charlotte’s elite form for nearly half the season now, I am backing the Hornets to win their second-straight elimination game and secure a date with the top-seeded Detroit Pistons.

• Over 218.5 (-105, theScore Bet)

This over would have cashed in all four regular-season meetings between the Magic and Hornets. While playoff basketball is played at a slower pace than the regular season, both teams should chip in enough to clear the 218.5 set total.

In the regular season, the Hornets were one of the slowest teams in the sport, finishing 26th in pace. However, Charlotte had the No. 5 offensive rating, a robust 119.5. Charlotte led the NBA with 1,343 made threes, shooting the second-most in the NBA while making the third-highest percentage.

Orlando’s offense was faster, 12th in the NBA in pace, but they were less efficient. The Magic were 19th in offensive rating and 21st in field goal percentage. However, Orlando lives at the free-throw line, leading the NBA with 22.0 makes per game and 27.5 attempts per game. The Magic’s 80.1% conversion rate at the line was 8th in the NBA.

Hornets vs Magic Expert Picks

• Kon Knueppel to Make 3+ Threes (-140, FanDuel)

The NBA’s regular-season leader in three-pointers did not make a three in Charlotte’s win over Miami, going 0-for-6 en route to a 2-for-12 night from the field. However, Knueppel did show a strong bounce-back ability in the regular season, making at least three threes in two of three games after going 0-for. In the regular season, Knueppel made three or more triples in 53 of 81 games played, including two of four against Orlando.

The mantra “shooters shoot” certainly applies to Knueppel who attempted at least three three-pointers in all 81 regular season games and the first play-in game. With the season on the line, Knueppel should get the green light to take (and hopefully make) a series of triples.

• Paolo Banchero to Record 8+ Rebounds (-170, FanDuel)

After a lackluster first play-in game, I anticipate Banchero trying to fill in the stat sheet even if his shot is not falling. In Orlando’s loss to Philadelphia, Banchero only had five rebounds and four assists, being outweighed by six costly turnovers. He averaged 8.4 rebounds per game in the regular season.

Panchero only recorded eight rebounds in one of four matchups with the Hornets in the regular season, but given the must-win nature of this contest, I expect Panchero to come out swinging. He has eight rebounds in seven of 12 career playoff games, posting eight or more in all three elimination games he has faced.

Hornets vs Magic Lines

The Hornets are slight road favorites in the play-in game. Charlotte bettors should take the Hornets at -3 ATS on Fanatics (-110 odds) or -155 on the moneyline at bet365. Orlando bettors should take the Magic at +3.5 ATS on BetMGM (-110 odds) or +140 on the moneyline at Caesars.

The total is set at 218.5 points. Over bettors should take over 218.5 points on theScore Bet for -105 odds. Under bettors should take under 218.5 points on bet365 for -110 odds.

How to Watch Hornets vs Magic

Prime Video will host Hornets vs Magic at 7:30 pm ET on Friday, April 17. Prime Video will also host the Western Conference’s No. 8 seed play-in game between the Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns at 10:00 pm ET.

Regular-Season Results

Charlotte won three out of of four regular-season matchups, including both games in Orlando. The Magic won the first game of the season series back in October, but the Hornets answered back with wins in December, January, and March. All four games were decided by at least 15 points.

In the Hornets’ 130-111 win in March, Coby White led the way with 27 points, including five three-pointers. The Magic had two 20-point scorers, but they shot a subpar 41.9% from the field on the night as Charlotte led by as many as 35.

How They Got Here

Charlotte Hornets

After a 44-38 regular season, the Hornets earned the No. 9 seed in the Eastern Conference. In the 9th Place vs 10th Place game. the Hornets pulled out a miraculous win over the Miami Heat. With under two minutes to play in regulation, the Heat had a 97.5% win probability (ESPN), but Charlotte righted the ship before winning in overtime, 127-126.

Orlando Magic

The Magic played to a 45-37 record in the regular season, dropping to the No. 8 seed in the East on the final day of the season. In the 7th Place vs 8th Place game, Desmond Bane’s 34 points was not enough to topple the 76ers in Philadelphia. Paolo Banchero was heavily criticized after a 7-for-22 shooting night and a game-high six turnovers.