: LaMelo Ball led Charlotte with 23 points, 21 of which came during a high-scoring third quarter, but it was too little, too late to bridge the massive deficit.
The Orlando Magic officially punched their ticket to the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 17, 2026, with a dominant 121-90 victory over the Charlotte Hornets at the Kia Center. Led by a commanding performance from Paolo Banchero, the Magic secured the East's No. 8 seed and ended the Hornets' postseason hopes in blowout fashion. Game Recap: A First-Half Surge
: The Magic raced to a 27-10 lead in the first quarter and ballooned that lead to 68-33 late in the first half. NBA PL: Hornets - Magic
The game was effectively decided early as Orlando opened with a relentless attack.
: Orlando shot a crisp 50% from the field, while Charlotte struggled to find any rhythm, shooting just 34% overall. : LaMelo Ball led Charlotte with 23 points,
: The Magic controlled the boards, outrebounding the Hornets 49-34. Top Performers Paolo Banchero Franz Wagner LaMelo Ball Miles Bridges Data sourced from NBA.com and ESPN . Key Storylines
: With this loss, the Hornets have now missed the playoffs for 10 consecutive seasons , the longest active drought in the NBA. What's Next? 8 seed and ended the Hornets' postseason hopes
Magic Make Hornets Disappear: Orlando Clinches Playoff Spot in Play-In Rout