ORLANDO, Fla. — Paolo Banchero delivered an impressive performance with 24 points and eight rebounds, helping the Orlando Magic overcome a difficult first half to secure a 102-86 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday night.
Franz Wagner contributed 16 points and seven rebounds, while Anthony Black provided a spark from the bench with 18 points.
For the Hornets, who are currently dealing with several injuries, Miles Bridges was the standout player, scoring 19 points alongside eight rebounds. Teammates Josh Green and Damion Baugh each chipped in 16 points, but Charlotte struggled to find their rhythm, finishing the game with a shooting percentage of 39.5% and marking their third consecutive loss.
Tensions flared late in the first half as Magic’s Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Hornets’ Nick Smith Jr. were ejected following a verbal altercation on the court, adding to the intensity of the matchup.
Injury woes continue to plague the Hornets, with LaMelo Ball sidelined due to a sore right ankle, and center Moussa Diabate out with a right eye abrasion. As they head into the All-Star break, they have experienced a disappointing stretch, losing nine out of their last ten games.
The Magic, on the other hand, are hopeful for the return of Jalen Suggs, who has been nursing a left quad contusion and missed his ninth consecutive game, totaling 19 games out since January 3. This recent win marked just the fifth victory for Orlando in the last 19 games without Suggs, causing them to drop in standings from fourth to ninth in their conference.
A pivotal moment of the game occurred in the final minutes of the third quarter, when the Magic broke a 55-55 deadlock. Cole Anthony and Banchero each connected on two 3-pointers, allowing Orlando to establish a 12-point lead that they maintained well into the fourth quarter.
Despite being the league’s lowest-ranked team in 3-point shooting, the Magic saw a significant improvement in the second half, converting nine of their 22 attempts (41%) after a rough start of just five for 21 (23%) in the first half.
Looking ahead, the Hornets will face the Los Angeles Lakers on February 19, while the Magic will travel to Atlanta on February 20.
