Magic Win Three Straight

Charlotte, NC — The Orlando Magic capped their season sweep of the Charlotte Hornets with a 111-104 victory at Spectrum Center, powered by standout performances from Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner.
A string of great positions sealed the win down the stretch and finally kept Orlando’s momentum rolling with their third straight victory, their first win streak greater than two wins in a row since December 1st of last year when they won against the Nets 100-92.

Injury Report Updates

Orlando played without Cole Anthony (toe) once again as he was downgraded from doubtful to out before the game. Trevelin Queen (ankle) was upgraded from questionable to available before tip-off, but he didn’t see the court regardless.
Charlotte was without Grant Williams (ACL tear) as he went down earlier this season and is out for the remainder of the season. Outside of Williams, the Hornets had their full team ready to play tonight’s game.

Banchero and Wagner’s Scoring Surge

Paolo Banchero continued playing out of his mind this March, as he dropped 32 points on 54.2% shooting on the Hornets, marking his fourth consecutive 30+ point game and sixth in his last seven contests. Averaging 30 points for the month, Banchero added 7 rebounds and 6 assists, showcasing his elite form.
Franz Wagner complemented him nicely with 26 points, quietly having his own streak going with his fifth straight 20+ point game and his sixth in his past seven, and helping to close out the win. This Magic All-Star level duo’s scoring has been the backbone of Orlando’s win streak and recent success.

Clutch Contributions

Anthony Black delivered an incredible 20-point performance tonight as well, which was his first in over a month. This marked his third straight double-digit game and his fourth in his past five contest.
Caleb Houstan had some clutch moment, draining 4-of-6 threes for 12 points in one of his best performances this season, while Wendell Carter Jr. balanced the team’s defense with with 11 rebounds and 2 blocks despite only finishing with five points.

Hornets’ Resilience Falls Short

LaMelo Ball led Charlotte with 25 points and 9 assists on 69.2% shooting, but it wasn’t enough to snap their fifth loss in six games. Josh Green and Nick Smith Jr. each scored 13, while Mark Williams grabbed 13 rebounds.
The Hornets’ 41.2% three-point shooting kept them in contention all the way until the fourth quarter, but they couldn’t match Orlando’s late-game execution.

Looking Ahead

Orlando seems to be finally heating up at the right time with the playoffs right around the corner. The Magic currently hold the eighth seed out East, but they are only half a game back from taking Atlanta’s seventh seed.
The Magic will return home to face a depleted Dallas Mavericks team, aiming to extend their hot streak and jump the Hawks in the standings.