Charlotte HornetsOpen full analysis
Orlando MagicOpen full analysis
The Orlando Magic dominated the Charlotte Hornets 121–90 at Kia Center on April 17, delivering a 31-point blowout that fell well short of the Vegas total of 218.5 points. Paolo Banchero led the Magic with 25 points while Franz Wagner added 18, as Orlando shot 50 percent from the field and made 8 three-pointers to control the pace. The Magic's suffocating defense held Charlotte to just 33.7 percent shooting and a mere 90 points, with the Hornets managing only 17 assists against 16 turnovers. LaMelo Ball paced Charlotte with 23 points and Miles Bridges chipped in 15, but the Hornets' third-quarter surge—scoring 34 points—proved too little too late after falling behind early. Orlando's defensive rating of 87.4 versus Charlotte's 117.2 underscored the gap in execution, while the Magic's balanced attack generated 27 assists on 121 points. The lopsided defeat signals Charlotte faces mounting pressure in the standings as Orlando flexes its postseason credentials.
