Hornets Aim for Play-In Seeding in Season Finale vs. Knicks

Charlotte has a mostly healthy roster as they look to lock up the 9th seed in the East.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 4:09pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A fragmented, multi-angled painting depicting a basketball game between the Charlotte Hornets and New York Knicks, with the players' forms broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in a cubist style, capturing the raw energy and motion of the sport.An abstract artistic interpretation of the Hornets' high-stakes season finale against the Knicks, with the players' movements and the energy of the game captured in a cubist, geometric style.NYC Today

The Charlotte Hornets will face the New York Knicks in their final regular season game on Sunday evening. With the Hornets already locked into the play-in tournament, they are still playing for seeding, while the Knicks will be resting several key players. The Hornets have a mostly clean injury report, with only Coby White listed as probable with right calf soreness.

Why it matters

The outcome of this game will determine the Hornets' seeding for the play-in tournament. A win would secure the 9th seed and a home game against the Miami Heat, while a loss could drop them to the 10th seed and force them to play on the road.

The details

The Knicks have already locked up the 3rd seed in the East and will be resting Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby, Mitchell Robinson, and Karl-Anthony Towns. This should give the Hornets a good opportunity to pick up a win and improve their play-in positioning.

  • The game is scheduled for Sunday, April 12, 2026 at 6:00 pm ET.

The players

Coby White

A Hornets player who is listed as probable for the game with right calf soreness.

Jalen Brunson

A Knicks player who will be resting for this game.

Josh Hart

A Knicks player who will be resting for this game.

OG Anunoby

A Knicks player who will be resting for this game.

Mitchell Robinson

A Knicks player who will be resting for this game.

Karl-Anthony Towns

A Knicks player who will be resting for this game.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“This being the case, the Hornets should, in theory, have a relatively easy time against the Knicks' backup, despite the game taking place in Madison Square Garden.”

— Jackson Stone, Author

What’s next

If the Hornets win, they will officially lock up the number nine seed in the Eastern Conference and host the Miami Heat in the first of two play-in games. A Hornets loss, combined with a Heat win, would mean Charlotte would fall to the 10th seed and have to play the Heat on the road.

The takeaway

This game represents a crucial opportunity for the Hornets to secure a favorable play-in tournament seeding as they look to make the playoffs. With the Knicks resting key players, the Hornets have a chance to end the regular season on a high note and set themselves up for success in the postseason.