The Magic demolished the Hornets 121-90 in a record play-in rout. Paolo Banchero led the way with 25/5/6 as Orlando secured the East 8-seed and will face Detroit in the first round.

The Orlando Magic didn't just beat the Charlotte Hornets in the first play-in game—they absolutely demolished them 121-90, setting a new record for the largest margin of victory in NBA play-in history. Paolo Banchero was the engine that made it happen, dropping 25 points with 5 rebounds and 6 assists while the Magic's offense was a thing of beauty.

What made this rout so dominant was Orlando's suffocating defense and their ability to blow the game open early. The Magic built a 35-point halftime lead and never looked back, with contributions across the board. Wendell Carter Jr. was efficient off the bench, and the entire roster showed why they earned the privilege of playing in the playoffs.

With this victory, the Magic secure the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference and will face the Detroit Pistons in the first round starting Sunday. This play-in win proves Orlando is ready to compete and potentially surprise people in a deep playoff run.