Orlando Magic vs. Charlotte Hornets (Nov. 14, 2022): 3 Things To Watch, Odds and Prediction
The Orlando Magic face their most difficult test of the homestand — coming off a big win to face a struggling opponent. Orlando hopes to build off back-to-back wins and defeat the struggling Charlotte Hornets.
Orlando Magic (4-9) vs. Charlotte Hornets (3-11)
Time/TV: 7 p.m./Bally Sports Florida
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Line: Magic by 1
Tickets: $10-$1,107 on StubHub
Season Series: Magic 113, Hornets 93 in Orlando on Oct. 28; Tonight in Orlando; Feb. 5 in Charlotte; March 3 in Charlotte
| Pace | Off. Rtg. | Def. Rtg. | eFG% | O.Reb.% | TO% | FTR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | 100.1 | 106.1 | 112.2 | 50.5 | 29.3 | 14.6 | 24.3 |
| Orlando | 99.2 | 110.5 | 112.4 | 54.2 | 27.8 | 16.6 | 30.0 |
OMD Prediction
The Orlando Magic have had some good wins already. The question is not this team’s capability to win games anymore. The frustration with late-game losses is warranted as a young team goes through its paces. But the team is capable of winning and they prove it repeatedly.
The question has been about consistency.
The Orlando Magic followed up the win over the Golden State Warriors with a better-than-it-looked-at-the-time, buzzer-beating, overtime loss to the Sacramento Kings. But then they laid a stinker in a loss to the Houston Rockets last week. Orlando has seemingly been working to make sure that kind of loss does not happen again.
So after back-to-back wins over the Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns where the team held two top-10 offenses to fewer than 100 points. This game is the real test for a young team. Can they bring the same focus, intensity and attention to detail to a team that is on an eight-game losing streak?
If the Magic want to be a better team. This is the kind of game they have to prove they can win.
170. 115. 38. Prediction. 103
3 Keys To Watch
Drive and Kick
The Orlando Magic are a team of contradictions offensively.
The one thing they are very good at is getting pressure at the rim. Orlando averages 52.3 points in the paint per game, the eighth most in the NBA. They are still third in the league in free throw rate and do a great job getting to the foul line and living offensively in the paint.
They are also one of the lowest-level passing teams in the league. Orlando is 28th with 21.2 assists per game and 29th in the league with a 52.6-percent assist rate. According to NBA.com’s tracking statistics, the Magic are 25th in the league with 264.4 passes per game.
The last thing the team needs to unlock is to turn their driving and paint presence into kick outs to the perimeter for threes — and then, yes, to hit those 3-pointers when they get them. The Magic are still working to improve their offense and better passing — and reducing turnovers — are the big keys to the team unlocking more of its offensive potential.
Turnover Watch
On that point then, turnovers remain the biggest X-factor for the Orlando Magic. It will be something everyone continues to monitor and will be a huge determinant for the Magic in wins and losses. That will go double against a point guard like LaMelo Ball and a team like the Charlotte Hornets.
The Magic still rank 29th in turnover rate at 16.6 percent. Opponents score 20.2 points off turnovers per game, the fifth-most in the league.
This is the biggest difference for the Magic in wins and losses. In wins, the team gives up 15.5 points off turnovers per game. In losses, they give up 22.3. With how close the Magic’s games have been, those nearly seven points per game are the difference between wins and losses.
The Hornets can be a great team at converting on turnovers. Charlotte is forcing a turnover rate of only 14.4 percent as the team’s defense has struggled early in the season. But the Hornets score 17.9 points off turnovers per game. That will only increase with LaMelo Ball back in the mix. Provided Charlotte straightens up on defense.
Appreciation for Chuma
Chuma Okeke deserves a lot of credit for his defensive effort in the last two games.
He stepped in for the injured Paolo Banchero and took on the challenge of at least starting possessions on Luka Doncic and Devin Booker. Both players were held well below their season averages as the Magic successfully bottled them up. That was a team effort, but Okeke got his work in early.
In the last two games, opponents shot 5 for 12 when Okeke was defending them, according to NBA.com’s defensive statistics. He added a steal, two blocks and a team-best three deflections. Okeke was getting after it defensively and his presence was key to the Magic netting two wins.
Paolo Banchero was still listed as questionable and coach Jamahl Mosley said after practice Saturday that Banchero will be a gametime decision.
Next. Orlando Magic's defense gets boost from rebounding. dark
Okeke’s time in the starting lineup is not likely to be long. But he gained a lot of confidence and a lot of trust in those two games. He will remain a key defensive presence for this team.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.