Magic beat Hornets in play-in; Charlotte misses NBA playoffs

Key Points:

• Orlando Magic dominated the Charlotte Hornets 121-90 in a sudden-death NBA play-in tournament game, securing the Eastern Conference’s No. 8 seed and advancing to a playoff series against Detroit.
• The Magic built a commanding 31-point lead by halftime, effectively ending the game early with strong physical play and strategic defense that limited Charlotte's three-point scoring.
• The Hornets, despite a strong season turnaround and a talented young core, struggled with turnovers and physicality, continuing their longest active non-playoff streak at 10 seasons.
• LaMelo Ball had a slow start with three fouls and zero points in the first half but scored 21 points in the third quarter; however, it was too late to change the outcome.
• This 31-point defeat marks the largest margin in NBA play-in tournament history and highlights the Hornets' ongoing difficulties in crucial postseason games, underscoring the need to avoid play-in scenarios in future seasons.