Orlando Magic achieves largest margin of difference in a play-in game

The Orlando Magic built a 35-point lead in the first half, beating the Charlotte Hornets 121-90, advancing to the first round of the playoffs where they will face the Detroit Pistons

Paolo Banchero scored 25 points and Orlando Magic built a 35-point lead in the first half, en route to a 121-90 blowout victory over the Charlotte Hornets in a game of play-in played on Friday, with which they advanced to the first round of the playoffs against the Detroit Pistons.

A record in play-in history

The Magic earned the eighth seed in the playoffs and will begin their best-of-seven series in Detroit this Sunday. Their 31-point victory marks the largest margin of victory recorded by any team in a play-in game, according to data from AM850 Research.

Banchero added 12 points and Wendell Carter Jr. contributed 10, while the Hornets were 5 of 20 from the field and committed six turnovers in the first quarter, falling behind 38-16.

What happened to LaMelo Ball?

Ball left without scoring and with two turnovers when he sat on the bench after accumulating three personal fouls, with 7:10 remaining in the first half. He did not manage to score until Orlando’s lead had already reached 35 points, in the final seconds of the first half.

LaMelo Ball scored 21 of his 23 points in the third quarter for Charlotte.

What’s next for the Magic?

The Magic have been eliminated in the first round of the playoffs in each of the last two postseasons and have not won a playoff series since 2010, so against the Pistons they will try to change that history

The Hornets, who had beaten the Magic in their last three regular-season meetings, have failed to qualify for the playoffs since 2016.

With information from The Associated Press.