The Orlando Magic overcame a sluggish first half to defeat the Charlotte Hornets 102-86 on Wednesday night, closing strong behind Paolo Banchero and Anthony Black.
Banchero led the way with 24 points and eight rebounds, while Franz Wagner added 16 points and seven boards. Rookie guard Anthony Black provided a spark off the bench, scoring 18 points and helping Orlando seize control in the second half.
The Hornets, already riddled with injuries, were led by Miles Bridges with 19 points and eight rebounds. Josh Green and Damion Baugh chipped in 16 apiece, but Charlotte shot just 39.5% from the field and dropped its third straight game. With LaMelo Ball (ankle) and center Moussa Diabate (eye) also sidelined, the Hornets limp into the All-Star break having lost nine of their last 10 contests.
Tempers briefly flared at the end of the first half when Orlando’s Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Charlotte rookie Nick Smith Jr. were both ejected after an on-court verbal exchange.
The game’s turning point came late in the third quarter. With the score tied at 55, Cole Anthony and Banchero each drilled a pair of three-pointers during a 20-8 run that gave Orlando a 12-point lead. The Magic carried that momentum into the fourth quarter, maintaining a double-digit cushion the rest of the way.
Despite entering the night as the NBA’s lowest-ranked three-point shooting team, Orlando rebounded from a poor first half (5-of-21 from deep) to hit 41% in the second half, fueling the win.
Next up, Orlando visits Atlanta on Feb. 20, while Charlotte faces the Lakers in Los Angeles on Feb. 19.
