In one of the early games on Sunday, the Charlotte Hornets hosted the Orlando Magic. The Magic, who have been a solid enough team for several weeks now, won the game in a contest that was fairly close at the final buzzer. They, the Magic, put up a single-digit spread in the game, winning by 6 points. The final score was Orlando 119, and Charlotte 113 as the Hornets fell to just 15-40 on the season.
Magic @ Hornets Sunday: LaMelo Ball scores 33
Charlotte's LaMelo Ball was the game-high scorer as he had 33 points in the loss. But Orlando was more well-rounded as both Paolo Banchero and Wendell Carter Jr. had double-doubles in the game. The Magic improved to 22-32 with the 6-point victory.
This is a team, Orlando, that started the season really slow with a 5-20 record. However, since that time they have been a reliable enough bet. The Magic are 17-12 since their slow start. Right now, there are enough teams struggling in the Eastern Conference that Orlando can, in fact, hope to play themselves into the play-in tournament, if only as a low seed.
Orlando Magic: Recent Form Alert
- Orlando Magic were 5-20 (December 6th, 2022)
- Following Sunday's game, they are 22-32
- Orlando is 17-12 since their slow start
The game against Charlotte marks the end of a four-game road trip for Orlando. They went 3-1 during the road trip, which included a win over the Philadelphia 76ers -- the No. 1 team in our power rankings. Next up for Orlando is a three-game home stint with a game on Tuesday against the New York Knicks.
Further reading: NBA Power Rankings
