Beede’s Breakdown: Magic handle Hornets in play-in, will face Pistons in NBA Playoffs

With the win, the Magic advance to the playoffs as the No. 8 seed in the East and will open its best-of-seven first-round series against the top-seeded Pistons on Sunday at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m. on NBC and Peacock.

Behind a combined 84 points from its starting lineup — Paolo Banchero (25), Franz Wagner (18), Wendell Carter Jr. (16), Desmond Bane (13) and Jalen Suggs (12) — Orlando dominated the paint 64-28 and the fastbreak 22-7 over the Hornets.

The Magic turned up the heat on the defensive end of the floor by scoring 26 points off 20 Charlotte turnovers and holding the Hornets to just 33.7% shooting from the floor.

With the loss, an otherwise encouraging season for a young Charlotte squad (44-38) ends in the play-in while the Magic (45-37) extend their year into the first round of the playoffs.

Strong start

Banchero penetrated the paint early and often and didn’t settle on the offensive end of the floor. He pieced together a 12-point first quarter when his first 3-pointer of the night put the Magic ahead by 17 points with under four minutes left in the opening period.

Carter Jr. matched the moment on the offensive end of the floor by making his first four shots from the field and reaching double figures after one quarter.

But it was Orlando’s defensive effort that knocked Charlotte off its fast-paced rhythm. In the first quarter alone, Orlando scored 11 points off six Charlotte turnovers to lead 38-16 after one frame.

The Magic kept it up on the defensive end when they scored 22 points off 14 Charlotte turnovers in the first half and led 68-37 at the break.

Suggs’ impact

Suggs actually committed a turnover on the very first play of the game but it was just one of three for the night.

He responded to a four-point first quarter by knocking down two 3-pointers late in the second quarter. He flew above the rim and slammed down the ball off a lob from Wagner to help grow Orlando’s lead to 32 points at the 2:15 mark of the second period.

Suggs, however, found himself in foul trouble in the third quarter when a successful challenge by Charlotte led to his fifth foul less than four minutes into the second half. He fouled out of the game at the 11:22 mark of the fourth quarter.

Despite the fouls, Suggs made plays for his teammates on both ends, finishing with five rebounds and six assists in 22 minutes.

Containing Charlotte from 3

The Hornets finished the regular season leading the league in 3-pointers made per night (16.4) and were third in 3-point percentage (37.8%).

Orlando made a concerted effort to slow down Charlotte from distance early when the Southeast Division foe shot 6 for 21 (28.6%) from 3-point range in the first half.

The Magic didn’t necessarily shoot the ball well from downtown, but Orlando made timely 3-pointers and was 8 for 27 (29.6%) for the night. More importantly, the Hornets finished well below their season average, shooting just 26.7% (12-for-45) from distance.

Bench boost

Whether it was a dunk late in the third quarter from Jamal Cain or four key blocks from Goga Bitadze, Orlando’s reserves delivered in more ways than one.

Cain scored an efficient nine points on 3-for-3 shooting from the floor with three free throws and Bitadze added seven points, four rebounds and two assists.

With help from Anthony Black (7 points), Tristan da Silva (5) and others, Orlando’s bench outscored Charlotte 37-25.

Jason Beede can be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com