Hornets Drop Home Finale to Pistons

118-100 loss leaves Charlotte in play-in game position

Apr. 11, 2026 at 4:04am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A cubist, geometric painting depicting a basketball game, with overlapping planes of teal, purple, and red creating a sense of dynamic movement and physicality on the court.The Hornets' physical battle with the Pistons exposed their need for improved focus and execution to succeed in the play-in tournament.Charlotte Today

The Charlotte Hornets fell 118-100 to the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons in their final home game of the regular season. The loss leaves the Hornets in the 9th or 10th spot in the East, meaning they'll have to win two play-in games to advance to the playoffs. Turnovers and a lack of execution down the stretch doomed Charlotte against the physical Pistons.

Why it matters

The Hornets were hoping to secure a direct playoff berth with a strong finish, but this loss means they'll have to fight through the play-in tournament. Finishing in the 9th or 10th spot will make their path to the playoffs much more difficult, as they'll have to win two straight games against higher-seeded teams.

The details

The Hornets kept the game close for three quarters, but were outscored 28-10 in the fourth as the Pistons' physicality and rebounding advantage took over. Charlotte committed several costly turnovers, and struggled to match Detroit's dominance in the paint, where the Pistons scored 62 points.

  • The Hornets' regular season home finale was on April 10, 2026.

The players

Charles Lee

Head coach of the Charlotte Hornets.

Brandon Miller

Forward for the Charlotte Hornets.

Grant Williams

Forward for the Charlotte Hornets and a team leader.

Detroit Pistons

The Eastern Conference-leading team that defeated the Hornets.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I thought we gave a good effort for a large portion of the game. It got tough, it got physical, and we didn't do a good enough job executing coverages at times, and really just the theme of trying to protect the paint.”

— Charles Lee, Head coach, Charlotte Hornets

“I think we know that Detroit is obviously going to be a physical team, and that goes into us not making shots, which was another big piece. [We need to] just focus back up on the right things and we'll be fine.”

— Brandon Miller, Forward, Charlotte Hornets

“[Detroit] went on a 10-0 run there, and rather than us rallying together and understanding that 10 points is nothing in the NBA, I think we went the opposite way. I think the group didn't necessarily commit to understanding that however long is left in the game, playing till the last minute and we ended up going from down 10 to looking up and being down 18 to 20, and that can't happen. Especially in moments and games like this, in a playoff scenario, that is how you lose a series.”

— Grant Williams, Forward, Charlotte Hornets

What’s next

The Hornets will play their final regular season game on the road against the New York Knicks. Depending on the results, they will either secure the 9th or 10th seed and have to win two play-in games to reach the playoffs, or potentially move up to the 8th seed and only need to win one play-in game.

The takeaway

This loss highlights the Hornets' struggles against top teams and their need to play a complete, disciplined game in order to beat elite opponents. The play-in tournament will be a major test for Charlotte, who will need to regain their focus and execution to advance to the playoffs.