NBA

Charlotte Hornets at Orlando Magic

· NBA Cup - Group Play
4-7, 1-4 Away
Final
89 - 114

6-6, 5-0 Home

Franz Wagner scores 32 as Magic cruise past Hornets, 114-89

Jalen Suggs drains 3 Charlotte Hornets

LaMelo Ball scored 16 of his 35 points in the first quarter for the Hornets in the opening round of Group A play in the NBA Cup. Coming off a career-high 38 points in Sunday’s overtime loss at Philadelphia, Ball added six rebounds and seven assists.

Suggs had 13 points in the first quarter and finished with 17 points and two steals.

Greg Williams scored 15 points and Moussa Diabate had 12 points and 15 rebounds for Charlotte.

Takeaways Hornets: Ball’s big first quarter (16 points, two assists) and 3-point shooting (10 of 21) kept the Hornets in the game despite 10 turnovers in the second quarter. But then the shots stopped falling and Charlotte quickly fell behind by 23.

Magic: In the absence of the injured Paolo Banchero and Wendell Carter Jr., the Magic have turned up their defense in three consecutive home wins by 27, 27 and 25 points.

Key moment Wagner was the only player for either team to score a field goal during a 4 1/2-minute stretch of the second quarter while the Magic went on a 19-3 run to take a 52-35 lead.

Key stat The Magic had a 45-27 edge in bench scoring.

Up next Hornets: Host Milwaukee on Saturday.

Magic: Host Indiana on Wednesday night.

Regular Season Series

ORL leads series 1-0

Matchup Prediction

Magic: 62.6%
Hornets: 37.4%
*According to ESPN's Basketball Power Index

Recent Plays

4th 0.0 End of Game 89 - 114
4th 0.0 End of the 4th Quarter 89 - 114
4th 0.0 Magic offensive team rebound 89 - 114
4th 0.0 Cory Joseph misses 57-foot three point jumper 89 - 114
4th 2.1 Vasilije Micic makes free throw 2 of 2 89 - 114

Statistics

https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nba/500/cha.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originCHA https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nba/500/orl.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originORL
34-84 FG 43-93
40.5 Field Goal % 46.2
13-38 3PT 13-44
34.2 Three Point % 29.5
8-14 FT 15-19
57.1 Free Throw % 78.9
48 Rebounds 43
8 Offensive Rebounds 8
40 Defensive Rebounds 35
22 Assists 25
7 Steals 12
3 Blocks 7
22 Turnovers 11
0 Team Turnovers 0
22 Total Turnovers 11
2 Technical Fouls 1
2 Total Technical Fouls 1
0 Flagrant Fouls 0
22 Points Conceded Off Turnovers 12
8 Fast Break Points 17
40 Points in Paint 38
18 Fouls 21
5 Largest Lead 30

Game Information

Kia Center

Location: Orlando, FL
Attendance: 17,541 · Capacity:

2024-25 Southeast Standings

TEAM W L PCT GB STRK
Orlando 19 12 .613 - W2
Miami 14 13 .519 3 W1
Atlanta 15 15 .500 3.5 W1
Charlotte 7 22 .241 11 L5
Washington 4 23 .148 13 L2
Full Standings

NBA News

Fantasy basketball trade targets: Who to trade, acquire heading into 2025

Fantasy basketball trade targets: Who to trade, acquire heading into 2025

The fantasy crew comes together and details the players that managers should be trading away and trading for at this stage of the NBA season.

Warriors' Kuminga responds to Kerr criticism by starring off bench

Warriors' Kuminga responds to Kerr criticism by starring off bench

After Warriors coach Steve Kerr delivered his most pointed criticism about Jonathan Kuminga's decision-making and shot selection of late, the fourth-year forward responded with one of his best and most aggressive games of the season Monday night.

New York hosts San Antonio on Christmas day

New York hosts San Antonio on Christmas day

San Antonio Spurs (15-14, ninth in the Western Conference) vs. New York Knicks (19-10, third in the Eastern Conference)

Mavericks play the Timberwolves on Christmas day

Mavericks play the Timberwolves on Christmas day

Minnesota Timberwolves (14-14, 10th in the Western Conference) vs. Dallas Mavericks (19-10, fourth in the Western Conference)

Phoenix hosts Denver on Christmas day

Phoenix hosts Denver on Christmas day

Denver Nuggets (16-11, fifth in the Western Conference) vs. Phoenix Suns (14-14, 11th in the Western Conference)