The Magic found the formula for making the playoffs. For them, it was called desperation

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — The Orlando Magic found their winning formula. Desperation works.

Works wonders, actually.

Facing elimination and clearly wanting no part of it, the Magic might have put together one of their best performances of the season Friday night. They rolled past the Charlotte Hornets 121-90 in an Eastern Conference play-in game, moving into the playoffs for the third straight season and getting a matchup with top-seeded Detroit as their reward.

“When you play with a sense of desperation and urgency, when you know you’re either going home or extending your season, that’s what it looks like,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said. “There (are) no second chances.”

Mosley is the first coach to lead the Magic to three consecutive playoff appearances since Stan Van Gundy took Orlando there in five straight years. Van Gundy was at Friday's game as an analyst for Amazon Prime Video.

“I've got to be honest. Charlotte is shrinking from the competition,” Van Gundy said on the broadcast, as the Magic were running away in the second quarter — building what became a 35-point lead shortly before halftime. “They look like they don't want any part of this.”

That's exactly how Orlando wanted it. It was bully ball, and it worked.

“We’re going to need more of that in the playoffs,” Magic forward Franz Wagner said.

Added Magic forward Paolo Banchero: “We were just relentless with that tonight. ... It was just a complete effort from the whole team.”

Charlotte coach Charles Lee, who has engineered quite a turnaround over his first two seasons with the Hornets, said he hopes his team doesn't forget the lessons that Orlando taught them in this one.

“I hope that this fuels us this offseason, because we’ve done a ton of really good things and gave ourselves an opportunity,” Lee said. “You’re one step away from being in the playoffs. I don’t want to discredit that. But this has got to hurt a little bit.”

Orlando dealt with injuries all season, and going 2-8 in a 10-game stretch late in the regular season could have absolutely sunk any postseason hopes. But the Magic — even with a loss in Wednesday's play-in opener at Philadelphia — have now won six of their last eight, heading into a no-pressure matchup against heavily favored Detroit.

“We did what we were supposed to do,” Mosley said. “There’s a reason we can be happy tonight. But at the end of the day, we still have more work to do.”

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

Orlando Magic forward Jamal Cain, left, celebrates a big play against the Charlotte Hornets with forward Franz Wagner (22) during the second half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game, Friday, April 17, 2026, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. (34) smiles to teammates after sinking a 3-point shot against the Charlotte Hornets during the first half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game, Friday, April 17, 2026, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Orlando Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley shouts to playersduring the first half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game against the Charlotte Hornets, Friday, April 17, 2026, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Charlotte Hornets forward Xavier Tillman (26) and Orlando Magic guard Desmond Bane (3) during the second half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game, Friday, April 17, 2026, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Charlotte Hornets guard Coby White (3) loses control of the ball as he tries to drive between Orlando Magic guard Desmond Bane, left, and center Wendell Carter Jr. (34) during the second half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game, Friday, April 17, 2026, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (AP) — Kennedy Wesley scored her first international goal and had an assist after entering as a substitution after halftime, Naomi Girma and Rose Lavelle each added a goal and the United States beat Japan 3-0 in a friendly Friday night.

Claudia Dickey had three saves for the United States.

Wesley, who replaced Tierna Davidson, played a header from the left post to Girma, who headed home the finish from point-blank range to make it 1-0 in the 47th minute.

“I felt we came out in the second half and there was no coming back, to be honest," United States coach Emma Hayes said.

Davidson took a hard fall in the 30th and was evaluated for a few minutes, but was able to finish the first half.

Lavelle gave the United States a 2-0 lead in the 56th minute. After Japan was dispossessed near midfield, Trinity Rodman played a through ball to Lavelle, who outraced the defense down the middle of the field and slipped a shot from the edge of the penalty box inside the left post.

“I felt tonight we were just clinical in the final third,” Hayes said.

Lavelle has played a role in 10 scores — five goals and five assists — in her last 10 games.

Wesley scored her on a volley off a corner kick played in by Jaedyn Shaw to make it 3-0 in the 64th minute.

“I really don't have any words,” Wesley said. “I mean, it was the perfect ball from Jaedyn and I was just in the right place at the right time.

“I'm just over the moon.”

The United States outshot Japan 9-1 in the first half, but the game was a scoreless tie at halftime.

Japan’s Miyabi Moriya replaced Hikaru Kitagawa, who was carried off by trainers with an injury in the 25th minute.

The game was played in temperatures hovering around freezing at Dick's Sporting Goods Park, home of the Colorado Rapids in MLS. Snowfall earlier in the day covered the field several hours before the game.

It was the final match of an unusual three-game series against Japan. The United States won the first last week in San Jose, California, 2-1.

Japan won the second 1-0 in Seattle on Tuesday night, snapping a 10-game U.S. winning streak. The United States hadn't lost since falling 2-1 to Portugal on Oct. 23 last year. The Americans hadn't been shut out in 42 games.

Hayes swapped her entire starting lineup in the second game as the team develops its player pool for World Cup qualifying later this year. It was the fourth time in Hayes' tenure that she started a completely different lineup in consecutive games.

Japan was coming off a championship run in the Women’s Asian Cup. The team outscored its opponents 29-1 and defeated hosts Australia 1-0 in the final.

Known for their technical prowess, the Japanese also defeated the United States in last year's SheBelieves Cup.

“They’re a world-class team,” Hayes said heading into Friday night's game. “I think when you win the first one, inevitably, the second one becomes that challenge. They are a top side, so we have to give them a lot of credit. So, game on for the third game.”

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Japan defender Toko Koga (6) tries to block a shot by United States defender Gisele Thompson during the first half of an international friendly soccer match Friday, April 17, 2026, in Commerce City, Colo. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

United States midfielder Rose Lavelle, center left, celebrates after a goal with teammate Trinity Rodman, center right, during the second half of an international friendly soccer match against Japan Friday, April 17, 2026, in Commerce City, Colo. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Japan defender Hikaru Kitagawa is taken off the pitch by trainers after sustaining an injury during the first half of an international friendly soccer match against the United States, Friday, April 17, 2026, in Commerce City, Colo. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

United States defender Kennedy Wesley (25) celebrates a goal against Japan during the second half of an international friendly soccer match Friday, April 17, 2026, in Commerce City, Colo. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

United States defender Kennedy Wesley celebrates after a goal against Japan during the second half of an international friendly soccer match Friday, April 17, 2026, in Commerce City, Colo. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)