Charlotte Hornets Face Knicks in Regular Season Finale

Hornets look to improve playoff seeding in matchup with resting Knicks

Apr. 12, 2026 at 1:54pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a basketball game between the Charlotte Hornets and New York Knicks, with the players and court broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of vibrant teal, purple, orange, and blue colors.The Hornets and Knicks face off in a crucial regular-season finale, with playoff positioning on the line and the Knicks potentially resting key players.NYC Today

The Charlotte Hornets will take on the New York Knicks in the final game of the regular season on Sunday, April 12. The Hornets are still jockeying for playoff positioning, while the Knicks, who have already clinched the Eastern Conference's No. 3 seed, may rest several key players ahead of the postseason.

Why it matters

This game has significant implications for the Hornets' playoff seeding, as a win could help them improve their position in the standings. Meanwhile, the Knicks' decision to potentially rest players adds an interesting wrinkle, as the Hornets will look to take advantage of a potentially depleted opponent.

The details

The Hornets enter the game with a 43-38 record, sitting in third place in the Southeast Division. They are still vying for a higher seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. The Knicks, on the other hand, have already secured the No. 3 seed in the East with a 53-28 record. As a result, the Knicks may choose to rest some of their starters and key players ahead of the postseason.

  • The game will tip off at 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT on Sunday, April 12.
  • The regular season finale will be played at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York.

The players

Charlotte Hornets

The Charlotte Hornets are a professional basketball team based in Charlotte, North Carolina, and a member of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

New York Knicks

The New York Knicks are a professional basketball team based in New York City and a member of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

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What they’re saying

“We're going to do what's best for the team and our players heading into the playoffs. That may mean resting some guys, but we'll make those decisions closer to game time.”

— Tom Thibodeau, Head Coach, New York Knicks

“We're going to give it our all in this final game. We know the Knicks may rest some players, but we can't worry about that. We just need to focus on what we can control and try to get a win to improve our playoff positioning.”

— James Borrego, Head Coach, Charlotte Hornets

What’s next

The Hornets and Knicks will meet in the first round of the NBA playoffs, with the Knicks holding home-court advantage as the No. 3 seed. The specific matchup and schedule will be determined after the regular season concludes.

The takeaway

This regular-season finale between the Hornets and Knicks has significant playoff implications for the Hornets, who are still jockeying for position in the Eastern Conference. The Knicks' decision to potentially rest players adds an interesting dynamic, as the Hornets will look to capitalize on a potentially depleted opponent and improve their own postseason seeding.