Player Grades: Magic, Banchero smash Hornets to earn playoff berth
Behind a dominant performance, the Magic defeated the Hornets in the play-in tournament on Friday to earn the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference.
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Behind a dominant team performance, the Orlando Magic defeated the Charlotte Hornets 121-90 on Friday in the play-in tournament to earn the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference and a matchup against the Detroit Pistons in the first round of the playoffs. Orlando jumped out to a 38-16 advantage after the first quarter, with Paolo Banchero and Wendell Carter Jr.
accounting for 22 points. The lead eventually ballooned to 35 points in the second quarter, and the Magic cruised to the win in front of a sellout crowd of 19,005 at the Kia Center. Banchero produced a game-high 25 points, six assists, five rebounds and two steals, while Franz Wagner tallied 18 points, seven rebounds and six assists and Carter finished with 16 points and six rebounds.
Desmond Bane had 13 points and Jalen Suggs added 12 points. Paolo Banchero goes WAY UP for the tough jam š¤ Winner tonight faces DET in Round 1! pic.
twitter. com/nZE0AAjPtE ā NBA (@NBA) April 18, 2026 The Magic also outscored the Hornets 64-28 in the paint while forcing 20 turnovers, which they converted to 26 points. They also limited four of the Hornets' five starters to 10 or fewer points in the first half, with Brandon Miller (12 points) the lone exception.
Continue to the original source for the full article.