Over the past 2+ weeks, both of these teams have shown some growth. Does that mean we’re in for an entertaining Orlando Magic vs. Charlotte Hornets game?
Orlando Magic vs. Charlotte Hornets Best Bets
The Magic have been a tough team to figure out all season. They have two very talented, healthy offensive pieces and lock in as much as any team in the NBA on the defensive end.
Yet, they can’t shoot in a league that requires shooting. It’s like having a great voice and being hired as a narrator but not being able to read. That’s a tough flaw to work around.
That said, we’ve seen some signs of life lately. Over the past week and a half (six games), Orlando is scoring 1.18 points per possession — a 9.3% bump from their first 66 games this season. I’m not ready to put all my faith in a small sample like that, but against a defense that’s on pace to finish outside the top 20 for the fourth straight season, I’m okay with cautiously trusting the Magic’s offense for the next 48 minutes.
If there was ever a moment for a bizarro Orlando game, this might be it.
With the offense trending up, this is a shallow rotation playing on the second night of a back-to-back. The Magic allow 1.11 points per possession this season, but they’ve given up more than 1.13 in six of their past seven no-rest games — a trend that could continue against a LaMelo Ball-led offense that’s going to be aggressive.
Over Charlotte’s past 11 games, there have been an average of more than 1.19 points scored per possession, whether they’re on offense or defense. The Hornets are used to these back-and-forth games, and that style puts them in a spot to threaten the +176 moneyline ticket tonight in a game that looks like it’ll play closer to their pace than Orlando’s.
If you’re looking to expand your ticket, Mark Williams looks pretty good in this spot. At DraftKings, you can get +213 odds for him to go over his projected point total (13.5) and grab 10 rebounds. Orlando is the 10th-worst defense inside five feet in March (65.3% opponent FG%) and has been out-rebounded on the season.
Williams is shooting 67.7% from the field this month, and with 3.0 assists per game, he’s being trusted with the ball more than before. I’m looking at that usage as a reason to buy into the recent scoring surge (14+ points in six of his past seven), giving me a shot to more than double my money if he hits these modest marks.
Pick: Hornets +5 (-108, FanDuel)
Pick: Over 213.5 points (-110, DraftKings)