Paolo Banchero led Orlando to a record 31-point win over Charlotte, sending the Magic into the first round against Detroit.
Orlando Magic secured their spot in the 2026 NBA playoffs with a dominant 121-90 win over the Charlotte Hornets in the play-in tournament on Friday night.
Paolo Banchero led the charge with 25 points as the Magic claimed the No. 8 seed, setting up a first-round series against Detroit.
The victory marked the largest margin of victory in play-in history, with Orlando leading by 35 points at halftime.
Charlotte Hornets struggled from the start, shooting poorly and committing six turnovers in the first quarter.
The Hornets fell behind 38-16 early and never recovered, with LaMelo Ball managing just 21 of his 23 points in the third quarter.
Ball was held scoreless before halftime, not scoring again until Orlando’s lead grew to 35 points late in the second quarter.
For Orlando, this playoff appearance ends a streak of first-round exits, with their last series win dating back to 2010.
The franchise has not advanced past the opening round since then, while the Hornets have not made the playoffs since 2016.
Their recent matchups have favored Orlando, who swept them three times this season.