Charlotte Hornets vs. Orlando Magic Picks and Predictions, Thursday, January 22nd 2026
Use Code WWWC The Charlotte Hornets (16-27) and the Orlando Magic (23-19) will tip off in a Southeast Division battle on Thursday night in this Hornets vs. Magic prediction. Charlotte will be playing their second game in two nights as they are hosting Cleveland on Wednesday (Note: This article was published before Wednesday's results). These teams have met twice this season, alternating wins with each team winning on the road. Keep reading to see our Hornets vs. Magic prediction, and check out our best NBA Picks.
Charlotte Faces Quick Turnaround
The Charlotte Hornets are fighting to remain relevant in the Eastern Conference, and face a tough task here as they have to play against Cleveland on Wednesday night, then quickly travel to Orlando to play the next day. The Hornets are currently 12th in the Eastern Conference, three games out of the final playoff spot for the Play-In Tournament. In their most recent game, Brandon Miller had 23 points in a win over the Nuggets.
Miller is their young 6'7 forward who the team hopes will continue to improve. So far this season he is getting 19.8 PPG and 4.3 RPG, while converting 2.9 threes per game on 36.2% shooting from deep. Miller comes into this game after scoring 23 or more in each of his last three before the game against Cleveland. LaMelo Ball edges him out in scoring by a narrow margin, as he is averaging 19.9 PPG to go with his team high 7.6 APG. Ball is the top outside shooter on the squad with 3.4 made triples per game.
Miles Bridges adds another 19.1 PPG, with Rookie of the Year Candidate Kon Knueppel scoring another 19.0 PPG. They are still starting Moussa Diabate inside, as he contributes 8.1 PPG and 8.4 RPG. Charlotte is ranked 8th in offensive efficiency and 23rd in defensive efficiency according to dunksandthrees.com. The Hornets rank 22nd in the league in possessions per game.
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Magic Top Their Division
The Orlando Magic are a young team who have made the playoffs over the past several seasons, but have not been able to advance deep into the tournament. This year they are at the top of their division, holding a narrow one game lead over Miami coming into this game. They are 6th in the overall standings, looking to avoid the Play-In Tournament as we approach the All-Star Break.
In their last game, Orlando fell at home against the Grizzlies despite getting 19 points from Anthony Black in the defeat. Black is one of their young building blocks, as he is a 22-year old guard with great size at 6'7. Black is averaging 15.9 PPG and 4.0 APG in his third season in the league. Franz Wagner has been fighting injuries all season, but is slated to play here, which is huge for Orlando as he is their leading scorer. Wagner is getting 22.2 PPG and 6.1 RPG as a 6'10 forward with guard skills. Paolo Banchero is a strong all around forward with a balanced stat line of 20.9 PPG, 8.8 RPG and 5.0 APG.
Desmond Bane is their newest offseason addition, he has started every game this season while scoring 18.9 PPG. Wendell Carter Jr. starts inside and adds another 12.5 PPG and 7.7 RPG. Orlando is ranked 20th in offensive efficiency and 13th in defensive efficiency. They play slightly faster than Charlotte, ranking 16th in the league in pace of play.
Injury Report for Hornets vs. Magic:
Hornets:
- Out: Mason Plumlee
Magic:
- Out: Jalen Suggs
Hornets vs. Magic Picks and Predictions
Spread pick for Hornets vs. Magic
- Magic (5 units)
The Magic are catching their divisional rivals at a good time, as they will be well rested as Charlotte needs to fly in overnight after battling Donovan Mitchell and the Cavaliers. Orlando has been relaxing at home, as they just hosted Memphis in back to back games. Any extra rest for Orlando is beneficial, as Franz Wagner has been fighting injuries all season. Wagner is slated to go here, as is Banchero and Bane, which will be enough to push Orlando to a victory. Charlotte is guard heavy, and will not be able to stop Banchero around the rim. Orlando gets an easy win here as Charlotte struggles in their second game in two nights.
Take the Magic to cover.
Over/Under Pick for Hornets vs. Magic
- Under (4 units)
Orlando will be able to control the tempo in the game, which will be slow paced as they battle to an easy win. Charlotte will be playing their second game in two nights, so do not expect their top scorers to see heavy minutes. Instead, the Hornets will dig into their bench and search for players to fill minutes while sacrificing points. Both of these teams are in the bottom half of the league in tempo, and Orlando's defense is much better than their offense analytically. Expect Orlando to slow it down, rely on their defense, and use Banchero to bang around in the post against Charlotte's small front line. All this adds up to an under.
Take the under.
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