It’s a battle of pair of teams from the Southeast Division on the hardwood as they clash in Buzz City. The Orlando Magic are on the road as they make the trip to face the Charlotte Hornets Sunday afternoon. Orlando took down Minnesota 127-120 on the road Friday night, winning outright as a 5.5-point underdog, in their previous game. Charlotte was beaten 118-112 on the road by Detroit in their previous game Friday night, losing outright as a 1.5-point favorite, in their last game. In the all-time regular season series between the teams, the Hornets own a 59-57 advantage. This season, the teams have split two meetings with the Hornets taking a 112-105 road win in the most recent meeting on November 14, 2022.
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Orlando had dropped three of their previous four games before taking down Minnesota in a game that had a little bit of everything, including fisticuffs, on the road Friday night. The Magic entered Saturday night fourth in the Southeast Division, eight games behind the Heat for the top spot. In the East, the team was 13th, 16 games behind Boston for the top spot and eight games behind the Heat for the final guaranteed playoff spot. They were four games behind the Bulls for the final spot in the play-in tournament. Against Minnesota, Orlando trailed by seven after the opening quarter before outscoring the Timberwolves 37-23 in the second quarter to take a seven-point lead. The Magic led the rest of the way en route to the victory despite Mo Bamba and Jalen Suggs being tossed for their part in a brawl that saw three Minnesota players ejected as well. Orlando shot 52.9% from the field, including 12 of 23 from three-point range, and f orced 20 Timberwolves turnovers in the game. Cole Anthony led the Magic with 20 points, eight rebounds and six assists as one of seven players in double figures in the win.
The Magic enter this game 27th in the league in scoring offense as they average 111.2 points per game on the season. Orlando is 19th in the league in rebounding with 42.6 rebounds per contest while they are 27th in assists by dishing 22.6 dimes a night. The Magic are 17th in the league in scoring defense by allowing 114.3 points per contest. Paolo Banchero paces the Magic as he averages 20.3 points plus 6.5 rebounds a night on the season. Cole Anthony contributes 12.2 points, 4.7 rebounds plus four assists a game, Terrence Ross adds eight points a night while Franz Wagner chips in 19.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.5 dimes a contest. Wendell Carter Jr. (15 points, 8.7 rebounds), Jalen Suggs (9.2 points, 3.7 assists), Moritz Wagner (11.6 points, 5.1 rebounds) and Bol Bol (10.9 points, 6.5 rebounds) are solid contributors. Gary Harris (9.2 points), Markelle Fultz (12.3 points, 5.5 assists), Caleb Houstan, Chuma Okeke, Mo Bamba, R.J. Hampton and Kevon Harris all have to contribute for the Magic. Orlando is 17th in the league in field goal percentage as they shoot 47.2% from the field on the year. The Magic is 24th in the league in threes per game as they hit 10.9 triples a night while they are 21st in three-point shooting by hitting 35.1% from beyond the arc.
Okeke (ankle) hasn’t played since November 21 and had arthroscopic surgery. They are expected to be out until sometime in mid-February at best. Carter Jr. (foot) missed Friday’s game and is questionable here. Watch for updates heading into the contest.
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