Charlotte Hornets at Orlando Magic
· NBA Play-In - East - 8th Seed GameMagic rout Hornets 121-90 in play-in game, advance to face Pistons in 1st round of playoffs
The Magic earned the No. 8 seed in playoffs and will start their best-of-seven series at Detroit on Sunday.
LaMelo Ball scored 21 of his 23 points in the third quarter for Charlotte.
Banchero had 12 points and Wendell Carter Jr. added 10 as the Hornets shot 5 for 20 with six turnovers in the first quarter and fell behind 38-16.
Ball was scoreless with two turnovers when he went to the bench with three fouls with 7:10 left in the first half. He did not score until Orlando’s lead had reached 35 points in the final seconds of the half.
The Magic were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs in each of the last two postseasons and have not won a playoff round since 2010.
The Hornets, who beat the Magic in their last three regular-season games, have not been in rhe playoffs since 2016.
Regular Season Series
CHA wins series 3-1
Recent Plays
| 4th 0.0 | ![]() |
End of Game | 90 - 121 |
| 4th 0.0 | ![]() |
End of the 4th Quarter | 90 - 121 |
| 4th 13.8 | ![]() |
Tidjane Salaun personal foul | 90 - 121 |
| 4th 20.7 | ![]() |
Moritz Wagner defensive rebound | 90 - 121 |
| 4th 22.8 | ![]() |
Tre Mann misses 26-foot three point step back jumpshot | 90 - 121 |
Statistics
CHA |
ORL |
|
|---|---|---|
| 28-83 | FG | 42-84 |
| 34 | Field Goal % | 50 |
| 12-45 | 3PT | 8-27 |
| 27 | Three Point % | 30 |
| 22-25 | FT | 29-37 |
| 88 | Free Throw % | 78 |
| 34 | Rebounds | 49 |
| 7 | Offensive Rebounds | 11 |
| 27 | Defensive Rebounds | 38 |
| 17 | Assists | 27 |
| 7 | Steals | 6 |
| 4 | Blocks | 8 |
| 16 | Turnovers | 14 |
| 4 | Team Turnovers | 0 |
| 20 | Total Turnovers | 14 |
| 1 | Technical Fouls | 1 |
| 1 | Total Technical Fouls | 1 |
| 0 | Flagrant Fouls | 0 |
| 26 | Points Conceded Off Turnovers | 17 |
| 7 | Fast Break Points | 24 |
| 28 | Points in Paint | 64 |
| 33 | Fouls | 31 |
| 1 | Largest Lead | 35 |
| 2 | Lead Changes | 2 |
| 0 | Percent Led | 97 |
Orlando Magic Injuries
| NAME, POS | STATUS | DATE |
|---|---|---|
| Jonathan Isaac, F | Out | Apr 22 |
Charlotte Hornets Injuries
| NAME, POS | STATUS | DATE |
|---|---|---|
| PJ Hall, C | Out | Apr 9 |
Game Information
Location: Orlando, FL
Attendance: 19,005 · Capacity:
2025-26 Southeast Standings
| TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | STRK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Atlanta |
46 | 36 | .561 | - | L1 |
Orlando |
45 | 37 | .549 | 1 | L1 |
Charlotte |
44 | 38 | .537 | 2 | W1 |
Miami |
43 | 39 | .524 | 3 | W2 |
Washington |
17 | 65 | .207 | 29 | L10 |
NBA News
Pistons and Thunder win comfortably
The top seeds dominate on Wednesday as the Pistons lock down the Magic and SGA goes off in a win over the Suns.
Suns' Booker, Brooks rip refs after Game 2 loss to Thunder
Suns star Devin Booker called crew chief James Williams out by name while saying Wednesday's officiating was "bad for the integrity of the sport."
Lakers take 2-0 lead into game 3 against the Rockets
Los Angeles Lakers (53-29, fourth in the Western Conference) vs. Houston Rockets (52-30, fifth in the Western Conference)
Celtics, 76ers tied 1-1 heading into game 3
Boston Celtics (56-26, second in the Eastern Conference) vs. Philadelphia 76ers (45-37, seventh in the Eastern Conference)
Spurs, Trail Blazers tied 1-1 heading to game 3
San Antonio Spurs (62-20, second in the Western Conference) vs. Portland Trail Blazers (42-40, eighth in the Western Conference)





CHA
ORL
Atlanta
Miami
Washington