It seems the only question regarding the opening-round series between Orlando and Charlotte is just how long this one is going to play out.

The Magic are now two games away from moving on in the NBA Playoffs after taking the first two games from the Bobcats this week at Amway Arena.

Now it’s off to North Carolina for games three and four on Saturday and Monday, where the city of Charlotte will host a playoff game for the first time since 2002. That’s when the then-Hornets defeated the Magic in the first round before being ousted by the New Jersey Nets in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

“We know the level of intensity is going to go up another notch from them, being their first playoff game at home,” said Orlando’s Vince Carter. “It’s going to be crazy in there and we’re just going to have to weather the storm.”

Once the rains and winds blow through, it’ll be on to the second round to meet whoever is left standing between the Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks.

Even if Charlotte pulls out a game on its own court, where they went 30-10 in the regular season, it’ll be hard to avoid the inevitable. Plenty has changed since 2002.

Orlando is just 6-6 on the road against the Bobcats but entered the playoffs having won 11 of the past 13 meetings in the series. The Magic are No. 2 in the East and have the second-best record in the league. The Bobcats have trouble shooting from the outside and have little to work with in terms of matching up against an aggressive Orlando team, led by the reigning coach of the month in Stan Van Gundy and the back-to-back defensive player of the year in Dwight Howard.

That’s a tough matchup to overcome – No. 7 seed aside. Such is life for a young and inexperienced team making its first postseason trip.

What’s worse for Charlotte is that the Magic realize just how good they are.

“We have so many weapons. It’s only a matter of time before somebody breaks out and gets hot,” said Matt Barnes, following the season finale last week against Philadelphia. “As long as we continue to play our team defense and are rebounding the ball, we’ll be hard to beat in seven games.”

Things seem to be shaping up just as Barnes envisioned.

Following a 98-89 Magic win on Sunday in Game 1 – where five players scored in double figures as Jameer Nelson went for 32 points and Howard had nine blocks and seven rebounds – Game 2 was more of the same.

On Wednesday, Charlotte was held to 30 points in the first half while Carter went for 19 points as part of a starting five that each reached double figures. Howard grabbed nine boards and Nelson dished out five assists in the 92-77 win.

It got sloppy in the fourth quarter, though. But the Magic held on to finish the job after leading by as many as 20 and never trailing throughout. Yet the Bobcats clawed back to within eight in the final minutes.

“It was a much tougher game than maybe the final score indicated,” said Van Gundy. “That team plays hard and well and never gives in. And I don’t think our team gave in either.”

The Bobcats trailed by 22 points and led by only two points in Game 1.

“We can’t play catch-up,” said Charlotte’s Stephen Jackson. “Especially in an arena as loud as this one was.”

Charlotte Coach Larry Brown wore his frustration on his sleeve after Wednesday’s game, stressing that his team must take care of the ball and find a way to get to the free throw line. They’ll need to cut back on the turnovers, too. After committing 16 in Game 1, they turned it over 21 times in Game 2.

The Bobcats clearly lack the kind of depth and firepower necessary to hang with the Magic, who in contrast rarely come across a 3-point attempt they don’t like and are completely comfortable turning to their bench at any time.

“I like our depth,” said Van Gundy. “And I certainly have enough confidence to use them.”

Apparently there’s enough confidence to go around at this point.