04/17/26 10:16:00
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04/17 22:14 CDT Magic rout Hornets 121-90 in play-in game, advance to face
Pistons in 1st round of playoffs
Magic rout Hornets 121-90 in play-in game, advance to face Pistons in 1st round
of playoffs
By DICK SCANLON
Associated Press
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) --- Paolo Banchero scored 25 points and the Orlando Magic
rolled to a 35-point first-half lead, taking full control on the way to a
121-90 rout of Charlotte Hornets in a play-in tournament elimination game on
Friday night.
The Magic earned the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Their
reward is a matchup with top-seeded Detroit, a best-of-seven that begins Sunday
on the Pistons' home floor.
The Magic were physical from the outset, and the Hornets were never in the
game. Franz Wagner had 18 points for the Magic, along with seven rebounds and
six assists.
Wendell Carter Jr. finished with 16 points on 6-for-7 shooting, while Desmond
Bane scored 13 and Jalen Suggs added 12 for the Magic.
Orlando led by 31 at halftime, the biggest midpoint lead in the play-in
tournament's seven-year history. It has been utilized in this format --- four
teams qualifying from each conference, playing to decide the final two playoff
spots on each half of the bracket --- since 2021.
LaMelo Ball --- who the NBA said should have been ejected from Tuesday's
season-extending win over Miami for an uncalled flagrant foul against Bam
Adebayo -- led the Hornets with 23 points, 21 of them coming in the third
quarter.
But the game was long decided at that point. Orlando raced out to a 27-10 lead,
stretched it to 68-33 late in the first half, and the Hornets never even got
within 20 points the rest of the way.
Miles Bridges, who has played more games than any other active player without a
playoff appearance, scored 15 for the Hornets. Brandon Miller scored 14 and Kon
Knueppel added 11.
The Hornets, who have now missed the playoffs in 10 straight seasons, were
outrebounded 49-34 and shot only 34%. Orlando shot 50%.
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. But they went
2-2 against the Pistons this season.
The Hornets, who beat the Magic in their last three regular-season games, have
not been in the playoffs since 2016. It's the longest active drought in the NBA.
___
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA
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