Player Grades: Magic, Banchero smash Hornets to earn playoff berth

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Behind a dominant team performance, the Orlando Magic defeated the Charlotte Hornets 121-90 on Friday in the play-in tournament to earn the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference and a matchup against the Detroit Pistons in the first round of the playoffs.

Orlando jumped out to a 38-16 advantage after the first quarter, with Paolo Banchero and Wendell Carter Jr. accounting for 22 points. The lead eventually ballooned to 35 points in the second quarter, and the Magic cruised to the win in front of a sellout crowd of 19,005 at the Kia Center.

Banchero produced a game-high 25 points, six assists, five rebounds and two steals, while Franz Wagner tallied 18 points, seven rebounds and six assists and Carter finished with 16 points and six rebounds. Desmond Bane had 13 points and Jalen Suggs added 12 points.

The Magic also outscored the Hornets 64-28 in the paint while forcing 20 turnovers, which they converted to 26 points. They also limited four of the Hornets' five starters to 10 or fewer points in the first half, with Brandon Miller (12 points) the lone exception.

Orlando faced a win-or-go-home situation after losing 109-97 to the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday in the 7-8 matchup on the road. Charlotte advanced to face the Magic after defeating the Miami Heat on Tuesday on a go-ahead layup in the closing seconds.

With their victory, the Magic clinch a playoff berth for the third straight season after finishing with a 45-37 record. Game 1 between the Magic and Pistons is set to tip off at 6:30 p.m. EDT Sunday at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit (NBC, Peacock).

Here are the Magic player grades following the win.

Paolo Banchero: A+

Apr 17, 2026; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) goes to the basket against Charlotte Hornets forward Brandon Miller (24) and forward Moussa Diabate (14) during the first quarter during the play-in rounds of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images

After a dreadful performance on Wednesday, in which he went 7-of-22 from the field and committed six turnovers, Banchero responded with a dominant effort to lead the Magic to the playoffs for a third straight year. He was aggressive from the start, scoring 12 points in the first quarter alone, by showing force and getting into the paint. The former All-Star also showcased his playmaking throughout the contest, seemingly making the right play on every possession, finishing with only two turnovers. In other words: Banchero answered the call on Friday and played like a true franchise cornerstone.

"I just wanted to come out and do whatever I wanted to do in terms of not necessarily letting the defense kind of trick me into doing what they want," Banchero said. "If they were backing up, I'm still going to drive the ball and make them have to react instead of just falling into their trap. When I want to shoot the 3, and I feel good about it, I'm going to take the 3. Just being confident, decisive and not hesitating, I think that was the main thing tonight."

Franz Wagner: A

Apr 17, 2026; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner (22) goes to the basket against Charlotte Hornets forward Brandon Miller (24) during the first quarter during the play-in rounds of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images

Wagner, playing in his eighth game since missing over a month with a high ankle sprain, was an early catalyst for the Magic building a 35-point advantage in the first half. He set the tone with his defensive effort and deflections, while also serving as a hub on offense at times, with his timely passing and driving. Wagner flashed his patented Eurostep in the paint, which enabled him to get to the free-throw line often (8-of-10). The Magic have been ramping up his workload following his injury, though they only needed him for 25 minutes on Friday, which the group will gladly take.

Wendell Carter Jr.: A

Apr 17, 2026; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. (34) handles the ball in front of Charlotte Hornets forward Moussa Diabate (14) during the second quarter during the play-in rounds of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images

Carter, who has been on the injury report with a facial fracture, ditched his face mask early in the game after some discomfort. The move appeared to pay off after he helped the Magic set the tone early, tallying 10 of his 16 total points in the first quarter, which included a pair of 3-pointers midway through the period. He stayed in a rhythm offensively with some timely cuts and a few putbacks, while also helping the Magic hold a 49-34 advantage in rebounding. Carter did the bulk of his damage in the opening frame, but it clearly enabled the Magic to hit first and not look back.

"The most impressive thing wasn't necessarily the scoring, but the fact that we talked about them having 24 offensive rebounds in that Miami game and we hold them to seven tonight," Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said of Carter. "That is big. (Moussa) Diabate has been a monster on the glass, and to hold him off, that is a big credit to Wendell."

Desmond Bane: B+

Apr 17, 2026; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic guard Desmond Bane (3) is fouled by Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges (0) during the second quarter during the play-in rounds of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images

Bane finished with 13 points, seven rebounds and three steals, though he struggled a bit with his shot, going just 4-of-14 from the field. But the sixth-year guard helped set the tone on defense by imposing physicality on the likes of LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges, including a tie-up that drew a technical foul. The constant hustle and effort displayed by Bane and the rest of the team gave the sellout crowd plenty to cheer about, further igniting the group. Though the shots didn't fall as efficiently as he is accustomed to, Bane emerged as a key contributor in the victory.

"He is just one of those players who is the first on the floor," Banchero said of Bane. "He is never afraid to get his hands dirty: Get on the floor, scrapping for rebounds, picking up on defense. That says a lot about him as a player and as a person. Obviously, everybody knows what he can do offensively, but he is not afraid to put his head in there on defense and make game-changing plays."

Jalen Suggs: B+

Apr 17, 2026; Orlando, Florida, USA; Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges (0) drives against Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs (4) during the second quarter during the play-in rounds of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images

Suggs was limited by foul trouble after picking up his fifth early in the third quarter. But by the time he was whistled for a sixth time, the Magic already had the game locked up. Mosley and Suggs took issue with a few of those calls after the game, but they were both pleased with his effort on both ends of the court. He played a key role in limiting Ball to just two points in the first half with his ball pressure and ability to take away space. Suggs showcased why he is viewed as one of the best defenders in the league.

"For the most part, I thought he did a great job early on," Mosley said. "I thought he got a couple of touch fouls, but we just have to continue to be smart about who we're fouling, when we're grabbing, and when we're holding. I think that just has to be the smart part about the game."

This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: Player Grades: Magic, Banchero dominate Hornets to earn playoff berth