Magic Rout Hornets to Clinch East's 8th Seed, Will Face Detroit Pistons in Playoffs
In the final game of the NBA Eastern Conference Play-in Tournament, the Orlando Magic crushed the Charlotte Hornets 121-90, securing the 8th seed. They will face the top-seeded Detroit Pistons in the first round.
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- 📰 Published: April 18, 2026 at 12:14
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- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 18, 2026 at 21:37 (9h 5m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(CNA Reporter, Orlando, 17th) In the final game of the NBA Eastern Conference Play-in Tournament, the Orlando Magic hosted the Charlotte Hornets. The Magic suppressed their opponents on both ends of the floor right from the start, ultimately surging to a 121-90 victory to advance. They will face the Eastern Conference's top seed, the Detroit Pistons, in the playoffs.
The Magic and Hornets fought for the 8th seed in the East today; the winner advances, the loser goes home. The Magic took a massive lead early on with tight defense and strong offense, especially scoring in the paint as easily as taking something from a pocket. At the end of the first quarter, they led by as much as 22 points, 38-16, practically ending the game prematurely.
Entering the second quarter, the Magic continued to slaughter the Hornets. Not only did they dominate the paint, but their tight defense also forced the Hornets into numerous turnovers. The Hornets had a total of 22 turnovers in the first half, while allowing their opponents to score 38 points in the paint. By the end of the second quarter, the Magic led by a massive margin of 68-37. The points the entire Magic team scored in the paint were more than the Hornets' total points.
The Magic's Paolo Banchero, Wendell Carter Jr., and Jalen Suggs all performed well in the first half. In contrast, the Hornets' hero from the previous game, LaMelo Ball, was completely ineffective, scoring only 2 points by the end of the second quarter. The two teams entered the third quarter with a 31-point gap, and with the Hornets trailing by so much, they were almost preparing for elimination.
There was no difference in scoring between the two sides in the second half. Ultimately, led by Banchero's 25 points, the Magic pocketed the victory early, with five players scoring in double digits. The Hornets' Ball finally found his shooting touch in the second half, but the team was just one game short of reaching the playoffs today.
The Magic had been eliminated in the first round of the playoffs for the past two seasons, and this year's first-round opponent is the top-seeded Detroit Pistons. If the Magic can continue their excellent offensive and defensive performance from today, the East might have a chance to witness an "8th seed upset" (a #8 seed beating a #1 seed) this year.
(CNA Reporter, Orlando, 17th) In the final game of the NBA Eastern Conference Play-in Tournament, the Orlando Magic hosted the Charlotte Hornets. The Magic suppressed their opponents on both ends of the floor right from the start, ultimately surging to a 121-90 victory to advance. They will face the Eastern Conference's top seed, the Detroit Pistons, in the playoffs.
The Magic and Hornets fought for the 8th seed in the East today; the winner advances, the loser goes home. The Magic took a massive lead early on with tight defense and strong offense, especially scoring in the paint as easily as taking something from a pocket. At the end of the first quarter, they led by as much as 22 points, 38-16, practically ending the game prematurely.
Entering the second quarter, the Magic continued to slaughter the Hornets. Not only did they dominate the paint, but their tight defense also forced the Hornets into numerous turnovers. The Hornets had a total of 22 turnovers in the first half, while allowing their opponents to score 38 points in the paint. By the end of the second quarter, the Magic led by a massive margin of 68-37. The points the entire Magic team scored in the paint were more than the Hornets' total points.
The Magic's Paolo Banchero, Wendell Carter Jr., and Jalen Suggs all performed well in the first half. In contrast, the Hornets' hero from the previous game, LaMelo Ball, was completely ineffective, scoring only 2 points by the end of the second quarter. The two teams entered the third quarter with a 31-point gap, and with the Hornets trailing by so much, they were almost preparing for elimination.
There was no difference in scoring between the two sides in the second half. Ultimately, led by Banchero's 25 points, the Magic pocketed the victory early, with five players scoring in double digits. The Hornets' Ball finally found his shooting touch in the second half, but the team was just one game short of reaching the playoffs today.
The Magic had been eliminated in the first round of the playoffs for the past two seasons, and this year's first-round opponent is the top-seeded Detroit Pistons. If the Magic can continue their excellent offensive and defensive performance from today, the East might have a chance to witness an "8th seed upset" (a #8 seed beating a #1 seed) this year.