CHARLOTTE — The Charlotte Hornets finished the 2025-26 NBA regular season with a 44-38 record, far exceeding a preseason projection of 26-56 and qualifying for the NBA play-in tournament. The team won 18 more games than forecasters expected heading into the season.

Charlotte's strongest stretch came after the All-Star break, when the Hornets went 18-9 to close out the regular season and secure their spot in the play-in field.

The play-in berth marks a return to postseason contention for a franchise that has not reached an NBA playoff series in a decade. The Hornets' preseason projection of 26-56 would have placed them among the league's worst records, making the 44-38 finish an improvement of 18 wins over expectations. Charlotte will now compete in the play-in tournament for a chance to advance to the first round of the playoffs. The Hornets went 18-9 after the All-Star break, a stretch that was central to securing the play-in berth and finishing above .500 for the season.