Overview
- Orlando hosts Charlotte in a single-elimination Play-In game that sends the winner to the No. 8 seed and a first-round series against Detroit.
- BetMGM lists Charlotte as a 3.5-point favorite with a -185 moneyline, Orlando at +150, and an over/under of 218.5 points.
- ESPN’s model gives the Hornets a 59.9% chance to win, with Dimers at 62%, Odds Shark calling a razor-thin Charlotte edge, and SportsGrid at 51%.
- Charlotte carries matchup momentum after winning the last three regular-season meetings against Orlando by a combined 61 points.
- A ClutchPoints NBA 2K26 simulation projects a 116-99 Hornets win, pointing to turnovers, nine steals, and a 19-rebound margin as the swing factors.