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The Magic earned the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference
playoffs. Their reward is a matchup with top-seeded Detroit, a
best-of-seven that begins Sunday on the Pistons' home floor.
The Magic were physical from the outset, and the Hornets were
never in the game. Franz Wagner had 18 points for the Magic,
along with seven rebounds and six assists.
Wendell Carter Jr. finished with 16 points on 6-for-7 shooting,
while Desmond Bane scored 13 and Jalen Suggs added 12 for the
Magic.
Orlando led by 31 at halftime, the biggest midpoint lead in the
play-in tournament’s seven-year history. It has been utilized in
this format — four teams qualifying from each conference,
playing to decide the final two playoff spots on each half of
the bracket — since 2021.
LaMelo Ball — who the NBA said should have been ejected from
Tuesday’s season-extending win over Miami for an uncalled
flagrant foul against Bam Adebayo -- led the Hornets with 23
points, 21 of them coming in the third quarter.
But the game was long decided at that point. Orlando raced out
to a 27-10 lead, stretched it to 68-33 late in the first half,
and the Hornets never even got within 20 points the rest of the
way.
Miles Bridges, who has played more games than any other active
player without a playoff appearance, scored 15 for the Hornets.
Brandon Miller scored 14 and Kon Knueppel added 11.
The Hornets, who have now missed the playoffs in 10 straight
seasons, were outrebounded 49-34 and shot only 34%. Orlando shot
50%.
The Magic were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs in
each of the last two postseasons and have not won a playoff
round since 2010. But they went 2-2 against the Pistons this
season.
The Hornets, who beat the Magic in their last three
regular-season games, have not been in the playoffs since 2016.
It's the longest active drought in the NBA.
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