Orlando, FL— Your Orlando Magic are headed to the postseason and they have now officially clinched a berth in the NBA Play-In Tournament with a dominating 112-92 victory over the Charlotte Hornets.

Although the Hornets have been injury-depleted, missing notable guys like LaMelo Ball (right ankle), Seth Curry (right ankle), and Cody Martin (left ankle) they stood little to no chance tonight as this game was a blowout from start to finish.

The first period of play was slightly competitive as Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs set the tone early on for this Magic squad. Franz Wagner came right out of the gates going downhill, being aggressive, and getting a tough bucket over Charlotte’s Brandon Miller. Suggs had one of the most incredible hustle plays you will see all season long. After a missed three-pointer Suggs hustled back on defense to block a layup off the glass, grab his rebound, and dish the ball ahead to Franz Wagner for a slam in transition.

Charlotte hung in there for the first period of play as Orlando led it 27-17 after one, but the Magic opened the floodgates in that second quarter. The Magic collectively as a team, top to bottom, outscored the Hornets 40-15 in the second period alone and they never looked back.

Joe Ingles did a phenomenal job coming into the game for the second unit driving the ball, dishing to shooters, and setting up the offense. Cole Anthony heated up in that second quarter as he scored 17 points on a perfect 8-8 shooting from the floor, 3-3 from deep, and was a +27 on the court. Jonathan Issac got involved in the offensive explosion for the Magic with an eight-point first half hitting multiple jumpers from the perimeter.

You can’t talk about the first half of play without the incredible highlight reel plays from both Jalen Suggs and Paolo Banchero. Late in the first half Franz Wagner drove the ball left, collapsed the defense, and dished to a cutting Banchero on the baseline for a big-time two-handed alley-oop throw down. The play of the night was highlighted by a Suggs steal, followed by Banchero pushing the ball in transition, dishing out a behind-the-back pass to Suggs for a left corner three and the crowd exploded.

Orlando would lead Charlotte going into the halftime locker room 67-32. That 35-point lead at halftime by the Magic tied for the second-largest lead at the half in franchise history. To put that into its proper context Orlando’s bench in the first half outscored Charlotte’s entire team 33-32, and allowed only four Hornets players to score a basket. Stifling defense and dominant play by the Magic in the first half of play.

Orlando would go on to finish the second half strong as they closed out the Hornets they enforced their will all evening long.

Tonight’s matchup was critical for the Magic to come out on top because with a win they would clinch a berth in the NBA Play-In Tournament. Head Coach of the Magic Jamahl Mosley was asked in the pregame presser about how important clinching postseason play would be for his group and he stated,

“It just says continued growth, and it’s something we can look towards. But, again, with this group, we’ve talked about, being able to stay humble and stay hungry, but also staying curious. What else can we do? What else can they do? How much more can we achieve? But knowing that it’s gonna take, the work and the ability to keep pushing each other to the next level.”

Orlando would finish the game shooting an incredible 44-82 from the field, they dished out 32 assists, all while playing stifling defense holding Charlotte to just 92 points.

I asked Jalen Suggs postgame about how this group has had to grow over these last few seasons and for them to now clinch postseason play he stated,
“You know we’ve lost small pieces, we’ve added big pieces, with the same core group, you know, we’ve all been here. Just seeing how it was, when we’re losing, seeing how it was, and we’re struggling. Continuing to find our way individually and as a unit, and now this year it all kind of came together. You see the camaraderie, the joy, the competitiveness, and just how much everybody’s grown individually and as a unit—It’s beautiful to watch and honestly, it’s beautiful to be a part of.”

Orlando has now secured their ticket to the postseason, they have clinched their 41st win of the season, and they will now be preparing to play host to the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday evening.