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ORLANDO (WBTV) – The playoffs will have to wait at least one more season for the Charlotte Hornets after the Orlando Magic won by 31 points on Friday night in the play-in game.
The loss ends the season for the Hornets and extends the longest playoff drought in the Eastern Conference.
The Orlando Magic were the better team for 48 minutes on Friday, April 17, as they defeated the Hornets 121-90. Former Duke Blue Devil Paolo Banchero led the way with 25 points for the Magic.
The Hornets were 3-1 against the Magic in the regular season before Friday’s game.
Charlotte struggled against Orlando’s defense much of the game. Hornets star LaMelo Ball scored only 2 points in the first half and was scoreless in the first quarter.
The Magic on Friday night got out to a quick lead in the first quarter and led the Hornets 38-16 after the first period.
Ball led the Hornets to a 127-126 win on Tuesday night in the play-in game against the Miami Heat. He scored the game-winning lay-up with less than 10 seconds to play and finished the game with 30 points and 10 assists.
The rookie Kon Knueppel continued to struggle as he was 1-for-6 from behind the arc and finished with 11 points. Knueppel on Tuesday was 0-for-6 from three and had 6 points.
Ball finished 23 points and struggled shooting from three as he went 3-for-8. The Hornets also had 20 turnovers compared to the 8 total they had against Miami.
The Hornets started the season 4-14 before finishing the season with a winning record at 44-38 including a 9-game winning streak.
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