Magic achieve record-setting victory over Hornets in play-in game, clinch 8th seed in Eastern Conference.
Paolo Banchero netted 25 points as the Orlando Magic established a 35-point advantage in the first half, leading to a 121-90 victory over the Charlotte Hornets in a play-in tournament match on Friday night, securing their progression to a first-round playoff encounter against the Detroit Pistons.
The Magic claimed the No. 8 seed in the playoffs and will commence their best-of-seven series in Detroit on Sunday. Their 31-point triumph represents the largest victory margin recorded by any team in a play-in game, as noted by ESPN Research.
LaMelo Ball contributed 21 of his 23 points during the third quarter for Charlotte.
Banchero scored 12 points, while Wendell Carter Jr. added 10, as the Hornets struggled with a shooting performance of 5 for 20 and committed six turnovers in the first quarter, falling behind 38-16.
Ball was scoreless with two turnovers when he was substituted with three fouls with 7:10 remaining in the first half. He did not register any points until Orlando’s lead had ballooned to 35 points in the closing moments of the half.
The Magic faced elimination in the first round of the playoffs in each of the last two seasons and have not advanced past the first round since 2010.
The Hornets, who defeated the Magic in their last three regular-season encounters, have not participated in the playoffs since 2016.
Information from The Associated Press was utilized in this report.
