Charlotte Hornets will face the Orlando Magic on March 19 (Tuesday) at the Kia Center Arena. This will be the third meeting between the two teams this season, with Orlando winning the first two. Both the victories were blowouts. The Magic are expected to qualify for the playoffs and can even finish in the top four. Their power forward Paolo Banchero was named All-Star and coach Jamahl Mosley is a candidate for the Coach of the Year award.
On the other hand, the Hornets are one of the worst teams in the NBA this season. They are 2-8 in their last 10 games. Their point guard, LaMelo Ball, has been plagued with injuries for the second consecutive year. However, Brandon Miller has lived up to the expectation of being the No. 2 draft pick.
Preview
The Hornets are coming off two consecutive losses against the Phoenix Suns and Philadelphia 76ers. However, they were competitive in both matches and because of their defensive approach, the defeats were prevented from being total blowouts.
Meanwhile, the Magic will look to extend their winning streak to four games. They have been in great form recently, with eight wins. Orlando is a game behind the New York Knicks for a top-four spot.
Starting lineup
The Hornets have five players on their injury report. They are expected to start with Tre Mann, Vasilije Micic, Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges and Nick Richards.
The Magic have a completely healthy roster, so they will most likely start with their usual five: Gary Harris, Jalen Suggs, Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Wendell Carter Jr.
Also Read: Rankings of the Top 25 NBA Players by Tiers, March 2024
Prediction
The Orlando Magic are big favorites to win the upcoming contest against the Hornets. They are on a winning streak and the Hornets seem unlikely to break it. The Hornets’ defense might create some problems for Orlando, but the Magic are still likely to win on Tuesday. They are also expected to cover the -13.5 spread and the total is expected to go over 203 points.
