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Paolo Banchero said the Orlando Magic arrived with the right mindset and turned it into a 121-90 rout of the Charlotte Hornets on Friday night at Kia Center. The win gave Orlando the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs and a first-round series against Detroit.
“Just that we were ready to fight, ready to extend our season and get our spot in the playoffs,” Banchero said. “Nobody wanted to go home today, so I thought we just came out and played really motivated.”
Banchero scored 25 points and helped Orlando build a 35-point first-half lead, but he said the biggest difference was the team’s response to the pressure. “You got to respond,” he said. “You can’t just settle for subpar performances. Especially in situations like this, do or die, winner go home.”
He said the Magic played with a clear and aggressive approach from the opening tip. “I just wanted to come out and take whatever I wanted,” Banchero said. “If they’re backing up, I’m still going to drive the ball and make them have to react instead of just falling into their trap.”
Banchero credited the full group for setting the tone, pointing to the play of Jalen Suggs, Anthony Black, Desmond Bane and Wendell Carter Jr. “I thought I did that. I thought Jalen did that. I thought Anthony Black, Desmond Bane, everybody,” he said. “I thought we all set the tone coming in.”
The Magic were physical throughout and outplayed Charlotte in the paint, on the glass and in transition. Banchero said that approach matched the team’s plan against a Hornets group that had hurt Orlando during the regular season.
“We knew that if we were going to be able to win the game, it was going to have to be by being extra physical and setting the tone with the physicality,” he said. “We know that they’re a team that loves to run, play offense, shoot a lot of threes.”
The forward also praised Desmond Bane’s work away from the ball and on defense. “He’s just one of those players. He’s the first on the floor. He’s never afraid to get his hands dirty,” Banchero said.
Banchero said the performance should build confidence, but not complacency, with Detroit next. “Yeah, I think it’s just a good feeling, good momentum builder,” he said. “But it’s a new team that we have to face, new opponent, different style of play.”
He finished with the tone Orlando will need in the postseason. “We got to win on the road to win the series,” Banchero said. “It’s going to be a dog fight.”
