What: Charlotte Hornets (5-9) at Orlando Magic (11-5)
When: 6:00 PM EST
Where: Amway Center; Orlando, Fla.
How to watch: Bally Sports Southeast, NBA League Pass
Outfitting: Hornets–Statement (purple), Magic–Association (white)
Game lines: Hornets +7.5, O/U 227.5
Injuries:
Hornets: Terry Rozier-probable (groin), PJ Washington-probable (foot), Nick Richards-out (concussion), James Bouknight-out (knee), Frank Ntilikina-out (leg), Cody Martin-out (knee)
Magic: Markelle Fultz-out (knee), Wendell Carter Jr.-out (finger)
Winners of back-to-back games, the Charlotte Hornets have a chance to make it three-in-a-row this evening against the red-hot Orlando Magic.
Orlando enters this one on a six-game win-streak of its own and has won nine of its last 12 games dating back to Nov. 2. After Charlotte topped the league-best Celtics on Tuesday, the Magic took it to them the next time out, claiming a 113-96 victory behind a season-high 27 points from Moe Wagner. Boston shot 24.1% from deep and were out-rebounded 48-31 in the loss to the Magic. Maybe the Hornets broke the Celtics?
The Hornets have yet to face the Magic this season. With an 11-5 record, Orlando sits in a three-way tie for second place in the Eastern Conference; along with Oklahoma City, Orlando is probably the best early-season success story in the NBA this year. The Magic are a gritty, tough young team with the #2 defense in the league and an extremely high free throw rate (.318). Strong defense and freebies at the line are fundamentally sound focal points for a slow-paced offense that lacks shooters in the way Orlando does, a testament to head coach Jamahl Mosley playing to the strengths of his roster. The Magic play a physical brand of basketball and impose their will on opponents despite being one of the younger teams in the league.
The story for the Hornets in this one is the probable return of Terry Rozier and PJ Washington. Obviously, it’s not 100% confirmed they’ll play, but the starting lineup decision for tonight will be interesting if so. LaMelo Ball and Mark Williams are locked in, and then Rozier, Washington, Gordon Hayward, Miles Bridges, and even rookie Brandon Miller are all in contention for the other three spots. There are a few ways to approach this and out ourselves in Steve Clifford’s shoes.
A “what have you done for me lately?” mindset gives a strong edge to Rozier, Miller and Bridges as Hayward and Washington have struggled through the last handful of games. The long-term outlook leans towards Miller, Bridges and Washington, given the experience and contract status of Rozier and Hayward. To the same degree, that experience provided by Rozier and Hayward holds value to a coach with the third-youngest roster in the NBA.
Provided everyone is healthy, if I had to guess the starting lineup, I’d go with Ball-Rozier-Hayward-Bridges-Williams. Miller’s shot much better lately — 45% 3P on 5 3PA in the last five games — but is still at just 33.9% from deep on the season and its understandably taking time to find his footing as a playmaker. Bridges was the starter over Washington when the team was at full-strength two seasons ago and Rozier and Hayward have probably earned the benefit of the doubt from Clifford to work through an injury ramp-up and cold spell.
Something I’ll be watching for; what can the Magic do to slow down LaMelo? Orlando has a tremendous group of perimeter defenders in Jalen Suggs, Franz Wagner, Anthony Black and Gary Harris. Ball is averaging 32.2 points, 6.7 rebounds and 8.7 assists over the last nine games and has scored 30-plus in four-straight games. Unstoppable force meets immovable object.
