Magic's Jalen Suggs awards Paolo Banchero Playmaker Chain for dominant win over Hornets

Banchero bounced back from a poor performance against the 76ers with a strong showing to lead the Magic to the playoffs.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 4:25am

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A vibrant, expressionist painting depicting the raw athletic movements and energy of two basketball players, their faces and jerseys dissolving into colorful brushstrokes, capturing the celebratory mood of a hard-fought playoff victory.The Magic's dynamic duo of Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs celebrate a hard-fought playoff berth with an explosive display of energy and teamwork.Charlotte Today

After a disappointing loss to the 76ers in the play-in tournament, Paolo Banchero led the Orlando Magic to a dominant 121-90 win over the Charlotte Hornets, earning him the NBA on Prime Playmaker Chain awarded by teammate Jalen Suggs. Banchero finished with 25 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, and a block to help the Magic punch their ticket to the 2026 NBA playoffs.

Why it matters

Banchero has faced criticism for his performance in big games, but this strong showing against the Hornets should help alleviate concerns about his ability to be the Magic's go-to player moving forward as they prepare to face the top-seeded Detroit Pistons in the first round.

The details

In the Magic's play-in game against the 76ers, Banchero struggled, scoring just 18 points on 7-22 shooting with 6 turnovers. However, he bounced back in a big way against the Hornets, attacking the basket aggressively and finishing with 25 points on 9-17 shooting, along with 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, and a block to lead Orlando to a dominant 121-90 victory.

  • The Magic defeated the Hornets on April 18, 2026 to punch their ticket to the 2026 NBA playoffs.
  • The Magic lost to the 76ers in the 7/8 play-in tournament game on April 16, 2026.

The players

Paolo Banchero

A 23-year-old forward for the Orlando Magic who bounced back from a poor performance against the 76ers with a dominant showing against the Hornets to lead his team to the playoffs.

Jalen Suggs

Banchero's teammate on the Orlando Magic who awarded him the NBA on Prime Playmaker Chain after the win over the Hornets.

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What they’re saying

“Paolo Banchero swagged out in the #NBAonPrime Playmaker Chain 🤩”

— NBA on Prime

What’s next

The Magic will now face the top-seeded Detroit Pistons in the first round of the 2026 NBA playoffs.

The takeaway

Banchero's strong performance against the Hornets after his struggles against the 76ers shows his ability to bounce back from adversity and lead the Magic as they prepare for a tough first-round matchup against the Pistons. This game should help quiet the doubts about Banchero's viability as the Magic's go-to player.