Orlando advanced by routing Charlotte in the Play-In, ending the Hornets’ season in decisive fashion. A day earlier, Charlotte had stunned the Miami Heat in overtime, but momentum did not carry over as the Magic topped the Hornets to clinch the matchup with Detroit.
Tobias Harris reacted with readiness, saying the team is locked in and focused for the challenge ahead. He noted the Pistons had not known their opponent until now and emphasized they’ve reviewed their game plan and are prepared to execute when the series begins.
The Pistons and Magic met four times during the season, with a balanced 2–2 split. The pair opened the year with a Detroit win on Oct. 29, Orlando answered with a 112–109 victory on Nov. 28, Detroit pulled away for a 106–92 win on March 1, and Orlando closed the regular season series with a 123–107 win on April 6.
Game 1 of the series is set for April 19, with Detroit holding home-court advantage as the top seed in the Eastern Conference. The matchup offers a chance to establish momentum early in a tightly contested best-of-seven series.
