Miles Bridges’ frustration boiled over into a ‘hostile act’ on Friday night, a moment that perfectly captured the Charlotte Hornets’ unraveling against the Orlando Magic.
It wasn’t just a loss; it was a complete meltdown, punctuated by what announcers immediately labeled a ‘hostile act’ from forward Miles Bridges against Desmond Bane.

The only reason to say almost is that Bridges made minimal contact with Bane’s face. The Orlando Magic guard stole the ball from the Hornets star. With both fighting for the loose ball, they crashed to the ground. That’s where it looked like Miles Bridges balled up a fist and swung, making contact with Bane’s face.

Officials didn’t have to look hard at the play. Officials gave Miles Bridges a technical foul for striking Bane while on the floor in the second quarter. Previously, the Hornets star got into a regular-season brawl, where he fought Pistons center Isaiah Stewart. Bridges served a suspension while also paying a fine.

However, the reasons for tonight’s act didn’t relate to Bane getting under his skin. The Hornets pushed themselves to the edge. The same young and exciting team that ended the Heat’s season just couldn’t bring themselves to repeat that performance. The Magic led the matchup by 30 at halftime. Charlotte scored just 37 first-half points.

Experience was clearly the separating factor, a reality reflected in the box score at the time of reporting. The Hornets’ offense collapsed, committing 16 turnovers against just 14 assists. LaMelo Ball was the lone bright spot with 23 points, but with Miles Bridges being the only other player in double figures with 15 points and the team shooting a dismal 35.9% from three, a comeback was never in the cards.

The Hornets will be disappointed to have missed the playoffs. However, this will still be remembered as an important season for the team. This season marked a shift to a more competitive mindset, underscored by the impressive development of their young stars and a new focus on winning that far exceeds last year’s 19-win campaign.

Paolo Banchero bounces back

Miles Bridges brought attention to himself for all the wrong reasons. Until tonight, that was also the case with the Magic’s cornerstone, Paolo Banchero. He was awful against the Philadelphia 76ers, scoring 18 on 7/22 shooting. It was a chance for the Magic to skip an additional game and get some rest before a first-round series.

The onus was clearly on Banchero. Fans ridiculed him, questioning the former number one pick’s ability to lead a franchise. Banchero halted those conversations momentarily after his redemption against the Hornets.

The 23-year-old delivered a game-high 25 points on an efficient 52.9% from the field, silencing the critics from his previous outing. His 16 first-half points were crucial in setting a dominant tone for Orlando.

Banchero rounded out his stellar performance with six assists, two steals, and a block, leading the Magic to a 90-121 win and allowing the starters to rest for nearly the entire fourth quarter.

Paolo Banchero appeared to be poised in the face of physicality. The Magic followed his lead. Their defense created chaos, causing a complete breakdown for the Hornets. Orlando scored 64 points in the paint and allowed just 28. That differential allowed them to offset a poor three-point shooting performance and secure a comfortable win.

The Magic have punched their ticket to the playoffs. Having survived the play-in, their lack of consistent outside shooting remains a significant hurdle, and their ability to overcome it will determine if this playoff appearance is a cameo or a legitimate run.