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 game was effectively decided early as Orlando opened with a relentless attack.
Magic Make Hornets Disappear: Orlando Clinches Playoff Spot in Play-In Rout NBA PL: Hornets - Magic
: With this loss, the Hornets have now missed the playoffs for 10 consecutive seasons , the longest active drought in the NBA. What's Next?
: 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 The Orlando Magic officially punched their ticket to
Charlotte Hornets vs Orlando Magic Apr 17, 2026 Game ... - NBA
: Orlando shot a crisp 50% from the field, while Charlotte struggled to find any rhythm, shooting just 34% overall. Game Recap: A First-Half Surge The game was
: The Magic raced to a 27-10 lead in the first quarter and ballooned that lead to 68-33 late in the first half.