By Daniel Feuerstein | New York, NY | April 12th, 2026
The last game of the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season has come to an end as the New York Knicks faced the Charlotte Hornets with most of their starters taking a break. While the majority of the backup players got their chance to shine on the Garden court, the Hornets were playing to make sure they locked up their position in the wild card position as they are looking for a chance to face the Orlando Magic at the Amway Center. The Knicks fall in their final game of the season as the Hornets take the win at 110-96.
Four of the five starters for the Knicks was given the night off. No Karl Anthony Towns, No O.G. Anunoby, No Josh Hart, and no Jalen Brunson on the court, but Mikael Bridges played to continue his consecutive minutes streak, then took off the rest of the game. But give credit to Jose Alvarado, Jordan Clarkson, Pacome Dadiet, Kevin McCullar Jr., Ariel Hukporti and others as they battled all game lone. Charlotte had three players as the leading scorers with 19 points. Brandon Miller, Lamelo Ball and off the bench Coby White. For the Knicks Deuce McBride was their leading scorer with 21 points and Jose Alvarado was second with 16 points
First Half: Hornets took the lead and never stopped
From the opening tip off the Hornets just teed off on the backup players for the Knicks and never stopped. Ball, Miller and White were bombing three pointers like there was no tomorrow. While the Knicks were giving a good fight up and down the court, the Hornets had more to out shoot them and converting chances to clinch that wild card spot.
Second Half: Hornets just pulled away and rode it all night.
The Knicks had made some strong plays, but kept losing the ball and shots weren’t going in. The Hornets were active at the boards grabbing rebounds and extending their lead. While the Knicks did try to cut the deficit, it just wasn’t enough for them to get back to force a tied game or take the lead. But now it’s all about the playoffs and who they will face in the first round as they already clinched the third seed and will either face the Cleveland Cavaliers or the Toronto Raptors in the first round.
KEY STATS:
CHARLOTTE: 39 FOR 85 FG’S, 19 FOR 52 3PTS, 13 FOR 17 FT’S
NEW YORK: 39 FOR 90 FG’S, 13 FOR 40 3PTS, 5 FOR 8 FT’S
LARGEST LEAD: HORNETS WITH 21 POINTS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER
MOST POINTS: 30 POINTS IN THE FIRST AND THIRD QUARTERS FOR THE HORNETS
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