Magic’s Jamahl Mosley reveals Orlando’s ‘gamechanger’ vs. Hornets

The Orlando Magic cannot have any complaints with how their play-in matchup against the Charlotte Hornets went. They exceeded expectations right from the first quarter, opening the game 27-10 and never looking back in a 121-90 rout of Charlotte.

The Magic had a standout team night, were not the most efficient themselves, and it was the defensive pressure and effort that the team exuded which blew the Hornets out of the game. Post-match, head coach Jamahl Mosley picked out exactly who the gamechanger was, singling out Desmond Bane, per a post on X by NBA.

“GAMECHANGER, that’s who he is… he’s just finding ways to win.”

Orlando HC Jamahl Mosley on Desmond Bane’s high-effort defensive impact in tonight’s win.

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“Gamechanger, that’s who he is… he’s just finding ways to win,” he said.

Bane was the defensive lynchpin and produced seven rebounds alongside three steals, returning with a +30 plus-minus, the highest on the team. The pressure resulted in a dramatic Charlotte collapse as they went just 12-45 from the three-point zone, representing a paltry 26.7% overall efficiency.

The Hornets got regular looks but were rushed across the board on the night, with LaMelo Ball leading the charge with 23 points. However, he was restricted to just two points in the first half.

Kon Knueppel continued his play-in struggles from beyond the arc. After going 0-6 from the three-point zone in the 126-125 win over the Miami Heat, he converted just one of his six attempts this time around.

The Magic went 50% from the field overall and just 29.6% from the three-point zone, converting just eight of their 27 three-point attempts themselves. Paolo Banchero led both teams in scoring, returning with 25 points as all five of Orlando’s starters scored in double digits.

The only shooting statistic that Charlotte led in was free throws, from which they went 22-25 overall compared to the Magic’s 29/37 mark. Orlando will now face the No. 1 seed Detroit Pistons in the first-round series of the playoffs.

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