Hornets 114, Pistons 108: Charlotte Grabs Crucial Win in Playoff Push

The Charlotte Hornets secured a vital 114-108 victory over the Detroit Pistons at the Spectrum Center on Friday, April 10, 2026. The win moves Charlotte to 44-37 on the season and gives them a better chance to land a favorable seed in the Eastern Conference Play-In Tournament. Despite playing without full urgency, the Pistons (58-22) were pushed hard by a Hornets team playing with playoff desperation.

LaMelo Ball led the way for Charlotte with 23 points, six assists, and five rebounds. Ball thrived in the fast-paced tempo, using his court vision and quickness to create for his teammates and break down Detroit’s half-court defense. Brandon Miller added 18 points and six rebounds, shooting 6-of-10 from the field including a pair of timely three-pointers in the fourth quarter.

On the Pistons side, Cade Cunningham tallied 22 points and nine assists but struggled with 11 turnovers in 38 minutes of action. Jalen Duren continued his dominant season with 16 points and 12 rebounds, but he was limited by Charlotte’s interior defense and foul trouble. Detroit’s inability to convert second-chance opportunities, just four offensive boards in the game, proved costly.

The Hornets took control early in the second quarter, outscoring the Pistons 34-26 in the frame. Charlotte’s perimeter shooting was a difference-maker, hitting 13-of-25 from beyond the arc compared to Detroit’s 6-of-19. The Pistons, who rank second in the league in opponent field goal percentage, struggled to contain Charlotte’s spacing and quick ball movement.

With the game on the line in the fourth, Ball and Miller connected for a clutch three-pointer with 3:12 remaining to extend the lead to 106-100. Detroit’s response was a quick layup from Duren, but the Hornets held strong over the final two minutes, using a 6-2 run to close out the game.

This win gives Charlotte a 64% implied win probability in prediction markets for the rest of the season, and they now control their own destiny in the Play-In race. The Pistons, meanwhile, will look to rest key players in their final two games, as their No. 1 seed is already secured.

Detroit will wrap up the regular season on the road against the Miami Heat on Monday, while Charlotte will host the Toronto Raptors in their final home game of the year. Both teams now shift their focus toward the postseason, with the Hornets hoping to secure home-court advantage in the Play-In round.