Hornets' Playoff Hopes Crushed, Ball's Frustration Emerges

On April 18th, the Charlotte Hornet season came to a crashing end with a 121 to 90 blowout

loss to the Orlando Magic on Friday night.

The Magic built a massive 31-point lead by halftime, putting the Hornets in a hole they

couldn't climb out of.

This defeat officially knocks Charlotte out of the 2025-26 playoff picture.

Lamello Ball struggled big time early, managing just two points in the first half before

exploding for 21 more after the break to finish with.

23.

Postgame, he owned it, saying the team got pushed around and that he should have grabbed

the reins from the jump instead of letting the system slow.

Them down.

Fans and analysts are buzzing about Ball's frustration, which says a lot in a loss dislopsided.

The Hornets racked up 44 wins this year.

They're most since 2016, and folks thought this could be the breakthrough season.

But the Magic exposed some cracks, dominating when Charlotte needed a spark.

New questions swirl around whether Ball's free-willing style fits the team's setup, or

if it's time for bigger changes.

11 straight years without playoffs means the excuses are wearing thin for the Hornets.

They've got work to do, heading into the offseason.

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