Deadspin | Magic extend Hornets’ playoff drought, face Pistons next 
Apr 17, 2026; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) shoots against Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges (0) during the first quarter during the play-in rounds of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images Paolo Banchero scored 25 points to lead five players in double figures for the host Orlando Magic, who advanced to the Eastern Conference playoffs by routing the Charlotte Hornets 121-90 in a play-in game on Friday night.
The Magic, who finished eighth during the regular season, earned the eighth seed and will face the top-seeded Pistons in a best-of-seven first-round series beginning Sunday night in Detroit.
This is the third straight trip to the playoffs for the Magic — the longest streak for the franchise since a team-record six straight appearances from 2007-12.
LaMelo Ball scored 23 points for the Hornets, who finished ninth in the East. Charlotte earned a dramatic 127-126 overtime win over the Miami Heat in the first play-in game Tuesday but missed the postseason for the 10th straight year — the NBA’s longest active drought.
Franz Wagner had 18 points while Wendell Carter Jr. finished with 16 for the Magic, who also received 13 from Desmond Bane and 12 from Jalen Suggs. Orlando shot 50% (42 of 84) from the field and 29.6% (8 for 27) from 3-point range.
Miles Bridges scored 15 points, Brandon Miller had 14 and Kon Knueppel added 11 in Charlotte’s most lopsided loss of the season. The visitors shot just 33% (28 of 83) from the field and 26.7% (12 of 45) from beyond the arc.
Miller’s 3-pointer gave the Hornets their only lead at 5-4 with 9:58 left in the first quarter. The Magic scored the next 10 points, after which Bridges and Miller combined for five consecutive points.
The Magic responded by taking control with a 13-0 run as Carter and Banchero combined for 11 points to take a 27-10 lead. Goga Bitadze’s layup gave Orlando its first 20-point lead at 36-16 with 54 seconds left.
The Magic led by as many as 35 in the second before entering the half with a 68-37 advantage. Orlando led 102-71 at the end of the third and by as many as 33 in the fourth.
–Field Level Media
#Deadspin #Magic #extend #Hornets #playoff #drought #face #Pistons
Apr 17, 2026; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) shoots against Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges (0) during the first quarter during the play-in rounds of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images Paolo Banchero scored 25 points to lead five players in double figures for the host Orlando Magic, who advanced to the Eastern Conference playoffs by routing the Charlotte Hornets 121-90 in a play-in game on Friday night.
The Magic, who finished eighth during the regular season, earned the eighth seed and will face the top-seeded Pistons in a best-of-seven first-round series beginning Sunday night in Detroit.
This is the third straight trip to the playoffs for the Magic — the longest streak for the franchise since a team-record six straight appearances from 2007-12.
LaMelo Ball scored 23 points for the Hornets, who finished ninth in the East. Charlotte earned a dramatic 127-126 overtime win over the Miami Heat in the first play-in game Tuesday but missed the postseason for the 10th straight year — the NBA’s longest active drought.
Franz Wagner had 18 points while Wendell Carter Jr. finished with 16 for the Magic, who also received 13 from Desmond Bane and 12 from Jalen Suggs. Orlando shot 50% (42 of 84) from the field and 29.6% (8 for 27) from 3-point range.
Miles Bridges scored 15 points, Brandon Miller had 14 and Kon Knueppel added 11 in Charlotte’s most lopsided loss of the season. The visitors shot just 33% (28 of 83) from the field and 26.7% (12 of 45) from beyond the arc.
Miller’s 3-pointer gave the Hornets their only lead at 5-4 with 9:58 left in the first quarter. The Magic scored the next 10 points, after which Bridges and Miller combined for five consecutive points.
The Magic responded by taking control with a 13-0 run as Carter and Banchero combined for 11 points to take a 27-10 lead. Goga Bitadze’s layup gave Orlando its first 20-point lead at 36-16 with 54 seconds left.
The Magic led by as many as 35 in the second before entering the half with a 68-37 advantage. Orlando led 102-71 at the end of the third and by as many as 33 in the fourth.
–Field Level Media
![Deadspin | Dodgers’ Emmet Sheehan vies to continue mastery of Rockies Apr 11, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Emmet Sheehan (80) throws against the Texas Rangers during the third inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images The weekend didn’t start well for the Colorado Rockies, but they will have three more chances against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Los Angeles recorded a 7-1 win in the opener of a four-game series in Denver on Friday night. The Dodgers have won four games in a row and 11 of their last 13 heading into a rematch on Saturday evening. Emmet Sheehan (2-0, 6.60 ERA) will be on the mound for Los Angeles against fellow right-hander Ryan Feltner (1-1, 7.30) of Colorado. It won’t be easy against Sheehan, who has pitched well against the Rockies in his brief career. Sheehan is 4-0 with a 3.75 ERA in four starts against them and is not afraid to pitch at altitude. Three of his starts against the Rockies have come in Denver, where he is 3-0 with a 4.76 ERA. Sheehan’s ERA this season is elevated, but he has pitched well after a rough first outing against Arizona. He went 5 2/3 innings at Washington on April 3 and logged a quality start in a 6-3 win over Texas last Saturday. Sheehan missed the 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery and returned in June 2025. The Dodgers hope he can be an important member of the rotation this season and give them length in his starts. Tyler Glasnow did that Friday night, going seven efficient innings. “Emmet has enough weapons to pitch at 92 and 94 [mph], he really does,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said recently. “I hope he’s not just chasing velocity, because the command, the sequencing, all that [matters] as well.” Colorado hopes to get some length from Feltner after Friday’s starter, Tomoyuki Sugano, was chased after throwing 92 pitches over four innings. Feltner has faced Los Angeles seven times (six starts) in his career, posting a 1-3 record with a 6.75 ERA. He threw six scoreless innings against the Dodgers the last time he faced them in Coors Field, which came on Sept. 29, 2024. Like every pitcher, Feltner knows facing Shohei Ohtani is a challenge, but he retired the four-time MVP six of the seven times he has pitched to him. “I would like to say he’s just another guy with a bat, but that’s not true,” Feltner said. “He’s got an incredible ability to cover a lot of different areas of the plate with incredible power. There are really only a few other players who can do that. (Houston’s) Yordan Alvarez is another one. “There are certain guys who can take swings in a part of the zone where they shouldn’t be able to do damage, but they do. You have to be constantly bobbing and weaving with Ohtani.” Ohtani led off Friday night’s game with a double to extend his on-base streak to 49 games, the fourth-longest such streak in franchise history. He can tie “Wee” Willie Keeler for third place in that category on Saturday night. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Dodgers #Emmet #Sheehan #vies #continue #mastery #Rockies](https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28711587.jpg "Deadspin | Dodgers’ Emmet Sheehan vies to continue mastery of Rockies Apr 11, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Emmet Sheehan (80) throws against the Texas Rangers during the third inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images The weekend didn’t start well for the Colorado Rockies, but they will have three more chances against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Los Angeles recorded a 7-1 win in the opener of a four-game series in Denver on Friday night. The Dodgers have won four games in a row and 11 of their last 13 heading into a rematch on Saturday evening. Emmet Sheehan (2-0, 6.60 ERA) will be on the mound for Los Angeles against fellow right-hander Ryan Feltner (1-1, 7.30) of Colorado. It won’t be easy against Sheehan, who has pitched well against the Rockies in his brief career. Sheehan is 4-0 with a 3.75 ERA in four starts against them and is not afraid to pitch at altitude. Three of his starts against the Rockies have come in Denver, where he is 3-0 with a 4.76 ERA. Sheehan’s ERA this season is elevated, but he has pitched well after a rough first outing against Arizona. He went 5 2/3 innings at Washington on April 3 and logged a quality start in a 6-3 win over Texas last Saturday. Sheehan missed the 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery and returned in June 2025. The Dodgers hope he can be an important member of the rotation this season and give them length in his starts. Tyler Glasnow did that Friday night, going seven efficient innings. “Emmet has enough weapons to pitch at 92 and 94 [mph], he really does,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said recently. “I hope he’s not just chasing velocity, because the command, the sequencing, all that [matters] as well.” Colorado hopes to get some length from Feltner after Friday’s starter, Tomoyuki Sugano, was chased after throwing 92 pitches over four innings. Feltner has faced Los Angeles seven times (six starts) in his career, posting a 1-3 record with a 6.75 ERA. He threw six scoreless innings against the Dodgers the last time he faced them in Coors Field, which came on Sept. 29, 2024. Like every pitcher, Feltner knows facing Shohei Ohtani is a challenge, but he retired the four-time MVP six of the seven times he has pitched to him. “I would like to say he’s just another guy with a bat, but that’s not true,” Feltner said. “He’s got an incredible ability to cover a lot of different areas of the plate with incredible power. There are really only a few other players who can do that. (Houston’s) Yordan Alvarez is another one. “There are certain guys who can take swings in a part of the zone where they shouldn’t be able to do damage, but they do. You have to be constantly bobbing and weaving with Ohtani.” Ohtani led off Friday night’s game with a double to extend his on-base streak to 49 games, the fourth-longest such streak in franchise history. He can tie “Wee” Willie Keeler for third place in that category on Saturday night. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Dodgers #Emmet #Sheehan #vies #continue #mastery #Rockies")
![Deadspin | Dodgers’ Emmet Sheehan vies to continue mastery of Rockies Apr 11, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Emmet Sheehan (80) throws against the Texas Rangers during the third inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images The weekend didn’t start well for the Colorado Rockies, but they will have three more chances against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Los Angeles recorded a 7-1 win in the opener of a four-game series in Denver on Friday night. The Dodgers have won four games in a row and 11 of their last 13 heading into a rematch on Saturday evening. Emmet Sheehan (2-0, 6.60 ERA) will be on the mound for Los Angeles against fellow right-hander Ryan Feltner (1-1, 7.30) of Colorado. It won’t be easy against Sheehan, who has pitched well against the Rockies in his brief career. Sheehan is 4-0 with a 3.75 ERA in four starts against them and is not afraid to pitch at altitude. Three of his starts against the Rockies have come in Denver, where he is 3-0 with a 4.76 ERA. Sheehan’s ERA this season is elevated, but he has pitched well after a rough first outing against Arizona. He went 5 2/3 innings at Washington on April 3 and logged a quality start in a 6-3 win over Texas last Saturday. Sheehan missed the 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery and returned in June 2025. The Dodgers hope he can be an important member of the rotation this season and give them length in his starts. Tyler Glasnow did that Friday night, going seven efficient innings. “Emmet has enough weapons to pitch at 92 and 94 [mph], he really does,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said recently. “I hope he’s not just chasing velocity, because the command, the sequencing, all that [matters] as well.” Colorado hopes to get some length from Feltner after Friday’s starter, Tomoyuki Sugano, was chased after throwing 92 pitches over four innings. Feltner has faced Los Angeles seven times (six starts) in his career, posting a 1-3 record with a 6.75 ERA. He threw six scoreless innings against the Dodgers the last time he faced them in Coors Field, which came on Sept. 29, 2024. Like every pitcher, Feltner knows facing Shohei Ohtani is a challenge, but he retired the four-time MVP six of the seven times he has pitched to him. “I would like to say he’s just another guy with a bat, but that’s not true,” Feltner said. “He’s got an incredible ability to cover a lot of different areas of the plate with incredible power. There are really only a few other players who can do that. (Houston’s) Yordan Alvarez is another one. “There are certain guys who can take swings in a part of the zone where they shouldn’t be able to do damage, but they do. You have to be constantly bobbing and weaving with Ohtani.” Ohtani led off Friday night’s game with a double to extend his on-base streak to 49 games, the fourth-longest such streak in franchise history. He can tie “Wee” Willie Keeler for third place in that category on Saturday night. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Dodgers #Emmet #Sheehan #vies #continue #mastery #Rockies](https://i2.wp.com/images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28711587.jpg?ssl=1 "Deadspin | Dodgers’ Emmet Sheehan vies to continue mastery of Rockies Apr 11, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Emmet Sheehan (80) throws against the Texas Rangers during the third inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images The weekend didn’t start well for the Colorado Rockies, but they will have three more chances against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Los Angeles recorded a 7-1 win in the opener of a four-game series in Denver on Friday night. The Dodgers have won four games in a row and 11 of their last 13 heading into a rematch on Saturday evening. Emmet Sheehan (2-0, 6.60 ERA) will be on the mound for Los Angeles against fellow right-hander Ryan Feltner (1-1, 7.30) of Colorado. It won’t be easy against Sheehan, who has pitched well against the Rockies in his brief career. Sheehan is 4-0 with a 3.75 ERA in four starts against them and is not afraid to pitch at altitude. Three of his starts against the Rockies have come in Denver, where he is 3-0 with a 4.76 ERA. Sheehan’s ERA this season is elevated, but he has pitched well after a rough first outing against Arizona. He went 5 2/3 innings at Washington on April 3 and logged a quality start in a 6-3 win over Texas last Saturday. Sheehan missed the 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery and returned in June 2025. The Dodgers hope he can be an important member of the rotation this season and give them length in his starts. Tyler Glasnow did that Friday night, going seven efficient innings. “Emmet has enough weapons to pitch at 92 and 94 [mph], he really does,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said recently. “I hope he’s not just chasing velocity, because the command, the sequencing, all that [matters] as well.” Colorado hopes to get some length from Feltner after Friday’s starter, Tomoyuki Sugano, was chased after throwing 92 pitches over four innings. Feltner has faced Los Angeles seven times (six starts) in his career, posting a 1-3 record with a 6.75 ERA. He threw six scoreless innings against the Dodgers the last time he faced them in Coors Field, which came on Sept. 29, 2024. Like every pitcher, Feltner knows facing Shohei Ohtani is a challenge, but he retired the four-time MVP six of the seven times he has pitched to him. “I would like to say he’s just another guy with a bat, but that’s not true,” Feltner said. “He’s got an incredible ability to cover a lot of different areas of the plate with incredible power. There are really only a few other players who can do that. (Houston’s) Yordan Alvarez is another one. “There are certain guys who can take swings in a part of the zone where they shouldn’t be able to do damage, but they do. You have to be constantly bobbing and weaving with Ohtani.” Ohtani led off Friday night’s game with a double to extend his on-base streak to 49 games, the fourth-longest such streak in franchise history. He can tie “Wee” Willie Keeler for third place in that category on Saturday night. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Dodgers #Emmet #Sheehan #vies #continue #mastery #Rockies")
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