Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs (4) runs up court with the ball during the third quarter Brian Westerholt-Imagn Images

Predicting Final Games for Charlotte Hornets, Eastern Conference Play-In Teams

Originally posted on Charlotte Hornets on SI
By Zach Roberts | Last updated Apr 1, 2026 3:20 PM ET

The Eastern Conference is pretty tight, at least from five through 10. The fifth-seeded Toronto Raptors are just 3.5 games ahead of the 10th-seeded Charlotte Hornets. There are about seven or eight games remaining for each team in the mix.

How's it all going to play out? Looking ahead at the remaining games and the standings, we can get a clearer picture for how the standings might map out. Unfortunately, Charlotte faces an uphill battle to catch everyone.

The Atlanta Hawks own the fifth seed at 43-33. Here's how their schedule will likely go:

@ Magic: Win
@ Nets: Win
vs. Knicks: Loss
@ Cavaliers: Loss
vs. Cavaliers: Win
@ Heat: Win

That puts them at 46-36. The Toronto Raptors currently hold the sixth seed. They are 42-33. Here's how their remaining games will probably go:

vs. Kings: Win
@ Grizzlies: Win
@ Celtics: Loss
vs. Heat: Win
vs. Heat: Loss
@ Knicks: Loss
vs. Nets: Win

That puts them at 47-35. The Philadelphia 76ers are seventh at 41-34. Here are their remaining contests:

@ Wizards: Win
vs. Timberwolves: Loss
vs. Pistons: Win
@ Spurs: Loss
@ Rockets: Loss
@ Pacers: Win
vs. Bucks: Win

That puts them at 45-38. The Orlando Magic are the eighth seed right now at 40-35. Here's their final slate of games:

vs. Hawks: Loss
@ Mavericks: Win
@ Pelicans: Win
vs. Pistons: Loss
vs. Timberwolves: Loss
@ Bulls: Win
@ Celtics: Win

That leaves them 44-38. The Miami Heat are in ninth. They're 40-36. Here's how their last games should go:

vs. Celtics: Loss
vs. Wizards: Win
@ Raptors: Loss
@ Raptors: Win
@ Wizards: Win
vs. Hawks: Loss

That leaves the Heat at 43-39. Finally, your Charlotte Hornets are in 10th at 40-36. They have a tough slate ahead:

vs. Suns: Win
vs. Pacers: Win
@ Timberwolves: Loss
@ Celtics: Loss
vs. Pistons: Win
@ Knicks: Win

That puts them at 44-38. If that's how it goes, this would be the Eastern Conference standings from five to 10:

Hawks (47-35)
Raptors (46-36)
76ers (45-38)
Hornets (44-38)
Magic (44-38)
Heat (43-39)

The Hornets lost two of three to the 76ers, with the latest coming a few days ago in brutal fashion. It would've been a big win for the standings, and it would, in this scenario, have put them in the seventh spot instead of the eighth.

If this pans out, the Hornets would play the 76ers. If they win, they'd go on to visit the East's two-seed (likely Boston). If they lose, they'd host the winner of Heat-Magic for a chance to visit the top seed (likely Detroit).

Anything can happen, but it does look like it's going to be a Play-In tournament appearance for Charlotte. Fortunately, they stand a good chance of at least having two chances to win a game and advance to the playoffs.

This article first appeared on Charlotte Hornets on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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