Southeast Division rivals round out their regular-season series Thursday night as the Charlotte Hornets host the Orlando Magic at the Spectrum Center.
The Magic (38–30, 6th East) recently went on a seven-game surge but are now coming off back-to-back losses, capped by a 113–108 defeat against the Thunder on Tuesday. The Hornets (35–34, 10th East) have been one of the hottest teams in basketball, winning 19 of their last 25 games after Tuesday’s 136–106 extinguishing of the Heat.
Charlotte holds a 2–1 edge so far in the four-game set, most recently cruising to a 124–97 rout in Orlando on January 22.
Here’s a look at the Injury Report:
Orlando Magic
- OUT: Franz Wagner (Ankle), Anthony Black (Abdominal), Jonathan Isaac (Knee)
Charlotte Hornets
- OUT: Tidjane Salaun (Calf), Liam McNeeley (G League Assignment)
Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. ET. Charlotte enters as a 5.5-point home favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook, while Orlando sits as a +180 underdog. The game’s total is set at 225.5 points.
Magic vs. Hornets Preview
Orlando Magic Preview
Even without star forward Franz Wagner — sidelined since mid-February with an ankle sprain — the Magic have held strong in the tightly contested Eastern Conference, even kicking it up a notch in March. Despite heading into Charlotte after consecutive losses, Orlando previously rattled off a seven-game heater — its longest winning streak of the season.
Since the calendar flipped, Paolo Banchero has jolted his production with 25.5 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. The former first overall pick has recorded three double-doubles in his last four games, including a 32-point, 10-board performance against the defending champion Thunder on Tuesday. Meanwhile, first-year Magic guard Desmond Bane has chipped in 21.6 points per contest.
Perhaps Orlando’s biggest strength in March has been its defense, ranking inside the NBA’s top five in defensive rating over the calendar month. Having already allowed the fewest opponent threes in the league this season, the Magic are constricting teams to a paltry 30.7% clip from the perimeter this month — also an NBA low.
Charlotte Hornets Preview
The Hornets are the textbook definition of dialed in, shooting their way into a play-in spot. The squad has won 19 of its last 25 games by an average of 10.2 points, ranking third in both categories. And fittingly, that torrid stretch began with a 27-point annihilation of the Magic on January 22.
Charlotte’s top-three offense during that stretch has been catalyzed by a three-headed monster of sharpshooters, each of whom is under 25 years old. All-Star LaMelo Ball, former second overall pick Brandon Miller, and rookie sensation Kon Knueppel have combined for just under 60 points per game, all drilling more than three triples a night at a blistering 40% collective clip from downtown.
The Hornets have been equally formidable on the other end, ranking seventh in defensive rating and second in opponent threes per game during their heater. They also sit third in rebounding, bolstered by second-year forward Moussa Diabate and 7-foot-1 rookie Ryan Kalkbrenner.
Magic vs. Hornets Pick, Best Bet
The upstart Hornets have arrived far earlier than expected, already teeming with talent and seemingly on the verge of exploding into a legitimate contender. While Orlando boasts the top perimeter pressure in the league, it’s an entirely different task to shut down three of the NBA’s hottest shooters on the same night.
Charlotte has beaten the Magic by at least 15 points in each of their last two matchups. Expect a similar result Thursday night in the Queen City.
