ORLANDO — The Orlando Magic dominated the Charlotte Hornets from start to finish, 121-90, in the NBA play-in tournament, securing the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference and advancing to the first round of the NBA playoffs, where they will face the Detroit Pistons. Paolo Banchero led a balanced Magic offensive display with 25 points in a dominant performance against a lifeless Hornets team.
The victory keeps Orlando's season alive and returns them to the Eastern Conference playoff picture after dominating a decisive elimination game. The Magic will open their best-of-seven series in Detroit this Sunday.
From the opening tip, the Orlando Magic imposed pace, defense, and intensity. Charlotte never found offensive rhythm and was overwhelmed by the home team's pressure. The first quarter was nearly decisive: the Hornets shot a poor 5-of-20 from the field, committed six turnovers, and ended the period down 38-16.
In that dominant opening, Paolo Banchero was already making a difference with 12 points, while Wendell Carter Jr. contributed 10 points to punish the paint. Orlando's ball movement and defensive aggression widened the gap during the second quarter, reaching a 35-point lead before halftime.
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The night went sideways early for LaMelo Ball. The Charlotte Hornets star headed to the bench without scoring, with two turnovers and three personal fouls when more than seven minutes remained in the second quarter. He didn't get on the board until the final seconds of the first half, when the game was already essentially decided.
After halftime came Ball's individual response, scoring 21 of his 23 points in the third quarter, but it wasn't enough to change the outcome. The Orlando Magic controlled the pace, managed their lead without drama, and closed out the game comfortably in front of their home crowd.
The result confirms the solidity of a Magic team that had been competing to secure their Eastern Conference spot and now face another opportunity in the NBA playoffs. For Charlotte, the loss ends a season in which they were seeking to return to the postseason for the first time since 2016.
Orlando, eliminated in the first round in each of the last two seasons, will now attempt to break that pattern against Detroit and take another step in their competitive growth.