The Charlotte Hornets showed promise this season, but their run ended in disappointing fashion with a blowout loss to the Orlando Magic in the Play-In Tournament on Friday, extending their playoff drought to 10 years.
Star guard LaMelo Ball led Charlotte with 23 points, but 21 of those came in the third quarter. After the game, he had a blunt message that appeared to question the team’s approach.
LaMelo Ball Questions the Hornets’ Game Plan After Play-In Loss
Speaking to reporters postgame, Ball was asked why he took over offensively after halftime.
“I just feel like it was just too late, I should have done it from the jump for real,” he said. “We were running a lot of plays and getting pushed around. I feel like I should’ve just taken the ball from the beginning.”
Lamelo Ball threw his coach under the bus after the loss 👀
“I feel like we were running a lot of plays and getting pushed around, I should’ve just took the ball from the beginning.” pic.twitter.com/VcA72og0xh
— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) April 18, 2026
As Ball noted, the outcome was largely decided by halftime.
Orlando jumped out to a 27-10 lead and extended it to 68-33 late in the first half. Despite Ball erupting for 21 in the third quarter, the Magic never allowed the Hornets to get within 20 points the rest of the way, eventually winning 121-90.
Orlando’s physicality proved decisive, as Paolo Banchero led the way with 25 points, while Franz Wagner added 18 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists. Wendell Carter Jr., Desmond Bane, and Jalen Suggs also scored in double figures.
For Charlotte, Ball finished with 23 points and 5 assists, while Miles Bridges scored 15, Brandon Miller added 14, and Kon Knueppel chipped in 11.
The Hornets were outrebounded 49-34 and shot just 34% from the field compared to Orlando’s 50%.
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“Obviously, hurt a lot, but I feel like it’s all just learning lessons. You live, you learn, you evolve, and you move on, you know? It’s better than the previous seasons, so that’s good, but still not making the playoffs, that hurts,” Ball said.
Charlotte has not been to the playoffs since 2016 and now owns the longest active playoff drought in the NBA.
Despite a slow start to the season, they rebounded in the second half to finish 44-38 and ninth in the Eastern Conference. But after defeating the Miami Heat in the Play-In opener, they could not get past Orlando, and Ball’s comments may raise further questions about head coach Charles Lee.
As for Orlando, they have not won a playoff series since 2010 and will look to change that when they face the top-seeded Detroit Pistons in the first round on Sunday.
