Defense wins play-in games: Magic shut down Hornets offense to earn final playoff spot in East

Orlando held Charlotte to 33 percent shooting and 28 percent shooting from deep before pulling their starters with six minutes left. Coby White, the hero of the play-in game against the Miami Heat, scored only two points before garbage time. Through three quarters, the Hornets' bench had more turnovers (three) than made baskets (one).

The Hornets got crushed on the glass 43-28 in the competitive part of the game, meaning they couldn't even corral their own frequent misses. NBA three-point leader Kon Knueppel struggled again, shooting 1-of-6 behind the arc in a game where only LaMelo Ball (23 points) found a way to score.

Hornets couldn't match Magic's effort

A telling moment came late in the third quarter. With his team leading by 25 points, Desmond Bane lay out for a loose ball, triggering another fast break basket for the Magic.

Jalen Suggs may have played too hard, fouling out early in the fourth quarter after playing only 22 minutes, though he had 12 points, five rebounds and six assists and a plus/minus of +25 in that stretch. Orlando's constant attacking got them to the foul line, with Wagner shooting 10 free throws, Banchero taking eight and Bane going 5-of-5.

The Magic will need that effort against another physical, defensive team in the Pistons. They won't be starting four players 24 and younger with zero postseason experience, like the Hornets. But after a season where their once-elite defense underperformed. The Magic got an encouraging performance against a team that was very hard to stop for the last four months — until Friday.