Los Angeles (United States) (AFP) – The Orlando Magic thrashed the Charlotte Hornets 121-90 to keep their season alive as the NBA playoffs’ final teams were determined Friday. Paolo Banchero top-scored with 25 points to set up a daunting first-round playoff series for the Magic against the Eastern Conference top-seeded Detroit Pistons. It was Orlando’s last chance to qualify for the post-season via the play-in tournament, having failed at their first attempt against the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday.
The Golden State Warriors take on the Phoenix Suns later Friday for the Western Conference’s No.8 seed, after which the full NBA playoff schedule will be finalized. A physical, tough Magic outfit outmuscled the youthful Hornets from the tip-off of the win-or-go-home game in front of a sell-out 19,000 home crowd at Orlando’s Kia Center. Banchero bulldozed Charlotte’s defense, scoring 12 in the first quarter alone. Having never trailed by more than a single point, Orlando soon stretched comfortably clear, establishing a giant 35-point lead shortly before half-time.
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Recovering from a sluggish start, LaMelo Ball—the hero of the Hornets’ first play-in game against Miami on Tuesday—exploded after the break. He poured in 21 points in the third quarter alone as he tried to single-handedly extend Charlotte’s season. But Orlando’s lead never dipped below 20 points, as the Magic eased to a win against a Charlotte side that had finished the regular season in strong form.
Victory ensured the Magic have reached the playoffs for the third straight season, while the Hornets’ decade-long wait goes on. The NBA playoffs begin Saturday.
© 2024 AFP
