Magic Secure Play-In Berth with Dominant 112-92 Win Over Hornets

Orlando’s playoff position is now secure, marking a significant achievement for the team and its best performance since the 2018-19 season.

“We set out to be playing our best basketball in March and April, and that’s what we’re going to continue to do,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said.

The team’s recent success has been notable, with the Magic winning 12 of their last 15 games, though they face a challenging schedule ahead.

“I think we continue to focus on one game at a time, continue to build our habits the right way and stick to our standard, knowing we’re there but not being satisfied with that,” Mosley said.

The Hornets, struggling of late, found some positives in rookies Brandon Miller and Vasilije Micic, who led their scoring. Suggs provided standout defensive efforts in the second quarter, proving to be a key to turning the game into a blowout.

“First-team All-Defense. That’s what that looked like,” Mosley said. “I think (Suggs) had a couple situations where he just stole the ball and you think it’s a foul because of how aggressive he was, and he’s doing it because he’s beating guys to spots. He’s so disruptive, and he’s capable of doing it on a consistent basis.”

The Magic’s first-half performance was particularly impressive, with a 40-9 run in the second quarter demonstrating their dominance.

“They know what to do defensively, and of course we did not have the right response,” Micic said. “That’s the key. You have to have the same energy or even better to compete in an away game.”

As the teams look ahead to their next games, the Magic can take pride in a strong showing that underscores their playoff readiness.