How to watch the Orlando Magic vs. Charlotte Hornets NBA Play-In Tournament game on April 17, 2026
The No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs will be determined on Friday night.
There is just one spot left in the 2026 NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs and two teams are left to fight for it. On Friday, April 17, the Orlando Magic and Charlotte Hornets will face off in the final game of the Play-In Tournament for the right to advance into the playoffs as the No. 8 seed. Whichever team wins this game will take on the No. 1 Detroit Pistons in the first round. The Magic vs. Hornets will tip off at 7:30 p.m. ET in a game airing exclusively on Prime Video. So, if you aren’t already a subscriber to the service or an Amazon Prime member, you can watch with a 30-day free trial to Prime Video.
How to watch Orlando Magic vs. Charlotte Hornets
- When: Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. ET
- TV: Prime Video
- Stream: Watch with a 30-day free trial to Prime Video.
- From anywhere: Watch with a subscription to a VPN.
Everything you need to know to stream Magic vs. Hornets:
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Why we recommend Prime Video to watch Magic vs. Hornets
This one is pretty simple: We recommend you watch the Magic vs. Hornets game — and all of the NBA Play-In Tournament — on Prime Video because the Amazon-owned streamer has the exclusive rights to broadcast the entire event. Prime Video will also have exclusive rights to some first and second-round playoff series, but the rest of the league’s broadcast partners will get into the mix once the playoffs proper tip off.
Can you watch Magic vs. Hornets for free?
Yes, you can. Amazon offers new customers a 30-day free trial to Prime Video, so if you sign up via a new account, you will be able to watch all of the streamer’s playoff coverage without having to pay a penny. In addition, there is a decent chance that you might have access to Prime Video already, without even knowing it.
The streaming service comes as an included benefit with every Amazon Prime membership. So, if you are already getting free shipping from the online retailer, you already have access to Prime Video as well.
If not, you can sign up for a subscription for $9 per month, or ad-free for $14. However, considering that these games will include commercials, regardless of which plan you choose, I would go with the cheaper ad-supported option, which is just $15 per month for the full Amazon Prime experience.
Prime Video
Prime Video is a subscription video streaming service that includes on-demand access to 10,000+ movies, TV shows, and Prime Originals like “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power,” “Jack Ryan,” “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” “The Boys,” and more. Subscribers can also add third-party services like Max, Showtime, STARZ, and dozens more with Prime Video Channels. Prime Video also offers exclusive live access to NFL Thursday Night Football.
Watch a preview of the Play-In Tournament
What is the schedule of 2026 NBA Play-In Tournament games?
| Date | Time (ET) | Matchup | Platform/Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, April 14 | 7:30 p.m. | No. 10 Miami Heat vs. No. 9 Charlotte Hornets | Hornets 127, Heat 126 (OT) |
| 10 p.m. | No. 8 Portland Trail Blazers vs. No. 7 Phoenix Suns | Blazers 114, Suns 110 | |
| Wednesday, April 15 | 7:30 p.m. | No. 8 Orlando Magic vs. No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers | 76ers 109, Magic 97 |
| 10 p.m. | No. 10 Golden State Warriors vs. No. 9 LA Clippers | Warriors 126, Clippers 121 | |
| Friday, April 17 | 7:30 p.m. | No. 9 Charlotte Hornets vs. No. 8 Orlando Magic | Prime Video |
| 10 p.m. | No. 10 Golden State Warriors vs. No. 7 Phoenix Suns | Prime Video |
How to watch Magic vs. Hornets from anywhere
If you’ll be away from home and can’t watch the game as you normally would, you can still catch all of the action, no matter where you are in the world, with a VPN. A VPN can be used on your phone, tablet, or computer and make you appear to be back home — even when you’re not — making sure you feel at home no matter where you are. A VPN is a safe and secure way to stay protected online while streaming your favorite sports, movies, and shows on the go. Keep in mind that you will still need to be subscribed to Prime Video in order to stream the game with a VPN.

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