Charlotte Hornets vs Orlando Magic Prediction & Betting Tips - NBA

Prediction published on 05/03/2024, 06:00  by Joseph King | Modified on 05/03/2024 at 07:28 in NBA Predictions

An Eastern Conference matchup on Tuesday sees the 13th-place Charlotte Hornets hosting the sixth-placed Orlando Magic at the Spectrum Arena. The Hornets come into this contest off the back of a 111-106 away loss to the Toronto Raptors, marking the team’s fourth defeat in a row. With five wins and five defeats over their last 10 games, Charlotte’s record has dropped to 15-46 on the year. Their .246 winning percentage represents the fourth-worst mark in what has been a tough year for the franchise. One of the few bright spots of the 2023/24 campaign for the hosts has been the emergence of rookie Brandon Miller who is looking to be a fine talent. The 21-year-old scored 26 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the most recent game and fans will be clamoring to see what he can do alongside a healthy LaMelo Ball.

The Magic have moved up to an automatic qualification seed as they currently sit sixth in the East. They’ll have to battle to keep a hold of it however as it’s tight in the standings with multiple teams competing for a spot in the top six to avoid the play-in tournament. Orlando are currently 35-26 following an excellent run of form which has seen them win eight of their last 10 overall. They come into this meeting with the Hornets as significant favorites after a 113-91 home win over the Pistons. The result marked the third win in a row for the Magic and the sixth win from their last seven. A big part of Orlando’s recent success has been their lockdown defense over the last few weeks. The visitors are giving up an average of just 100.9 points per game over their last seven outings and rank fifth in the NBA on the season with just 109.9 allowed.