Orlando Magic vs Charlotte Hornets

The Orlando Magic will take on the Charlotte Hornets at the Spectrum Center in Tuesday night’s NBA matchup. The Hornets (18-53) sit near the bottom of the Eastern Conference at 14th place, while the Magic (34-38) are fighting for playoff positioning in eighth.

Charlotte appears to be winding down their season, having lost four of their last five games. They’ll look to bounce back after a 122-105 defeat to the Miami Heat on Sunday, where no player scored 20+ points. The team shot 47% from the field and went 11-of-33 from beyond the arc but struggled with turnovers, giving up the ball 20 times.

Offense has been a major issue for the Hornets this year—they rank third-worst in scoring (105.8 PPG). However, their defense has been slightly better, allowing 114.0 PPG (15th in the NBA).

Meanwhile, the Magic are peaking at the perfect time, riding a two-game winning streak following an impressive 118-106 victory over the Lakers. Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero led the charge with a combined 62 points, while Orlando shot nearly 50% from the field and hit 15 three-pointers.

Despite being the lowest-scoring team in the league (105.0 PPG), the Magic boast the NBA’s best defense, surrendering just 106.1 PPG. Their stifling defense could prove decisive against the struggling Hornets.

The Orlando Magic are still pushing for a Top 6 finish in the Eastern Conference, and much of that can be credited to Paolo Banchero’s impressive performances. Despite missing a significant portion of the season due to injury, the young star has made a major impact whenever he’s been on the court.

In 38 games, the Duke alum is putting up an impressive 25.5 points per game. His stats in March have been particularly eye-catching, averaging 30 points over 11 contests. Banchero has surpassed his points total in three consecutive games and in five of his last six, hitting the 30-point mark in all of them. He’s also done so against tough competition, including the Lakers, Cavaliers, and Timberwolves.

Now, he faces the Charlotte Hornets—a team that has already been eliminated from Play-In contention and ranks 24th in defensive efficiency. While Banchero managed just 24 points against them earlier this season, Charlotte has little to play for at this stage, whereas Orlando remains in the fight.

Though the Play-In Tournament seems like the most probable outcome for the Magic, they’ll still be giving their all to secure a direct playoff spot. If they have any hope of making it, Banchero will need to continue leading the charge. Given his current form, he’s poised for another dominant performance against the Hornets.