CHARLOTTE, N.C. _ The Orlando Magic wanted to go into the playoffs with momentum.
Will they ever.
Terrence Ross scored a season-high 35 points and Aaron Gordon had 27 as the Magic ended a seven-game losing streak in Charlotte with a 122-114 win over the Hornets on Wednesday night at Spectrum Center.
D.J. Augustin finished with 18 points for the Magic, who played without starters Nikola Vucevic (stomach illness) and Jonathan Isaac (concussion) but more than made up for their absence.
The Magic will now take on the Toronto Raptors in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs as the seventh seed.
The Nets secured the sixth seed with a 113-94 win over the Heat in Dwyane Wade's final NBA game.
The Pistons earned the eighth seed with their 115-89 win over the Knicks.
Kemba Walker scored 43 points in what could be his final game with the Hornets, who were eliminated from playoff contention. The All-Star guard is an unrestricted free agent after this season.
Jeremy Lamb finished with 22 points for the Hornets, who played at times like a team in desperation mode. They also looked raggedy and out of sorts against a confident Magic team that kept countering every punch the Hornets threw at them.
The Hornets charged back from a 99-88 deficit to get within 101-99 after three free throws by Walker.
The Magic turned to Ross. He drained a 3, hit a floater off the glass and then sank another 3 in three possessions as the Magic ran out to a 109-102 lead.
The Hornets never threatened from there.
