Eight straight losses in early December, five in a row in January and four in a row to start February: the Hornets continue their slide in the Eastern Conference standings. The Orlando Magic went to win at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte this Sunday to push Michael Jordan’s franchise a little further (119-113).
However, Orlando is not impressive, apart from the first choice of the 2022 draft Paolo Banchero, still author of 22 points and 10 rebounds this Sunday evening (top scorer of his team). The Hornets had also started the game well by taking the lead at the end of the first quarter (39-27). But in this bottom-of-the-table duel in the East, the Magic took over despite the absences of Jalen Suggs and Mo Bamba, suspended after a fight against Minnesota. and LaMelo Ball’s 33 points weren’t enough.
Ball had put the Hornets in front at the start of the last quarter
Back from the locker room, Orlando led 62-58 but the gap quickly increased to 12 points (73-61), the biggest of the game. At the start of the last quarter, LaMelo Ball’s two consecutive three-point baskets (33 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists) had yet put the Hornets back in front. Orlando returned to its starting five on the floor for the last minutes and won the victory, the second in a row after that against the Timberwolves on Saturday.
The Magic remains thirteenth in the East, still within reach of tenth place held by Indiana, synonymous with play-in. With a record of 15 wins for 40 losses, Charlotte could slip to last place if the Detroit Pistons win against the Celtics on Tuesday.
