Magic vs Hornets Odds & Predictions (Feb. 5)

• Orlando is a 1-point road favorite in the Magic vs Hornets odds on Sunday afternoon
• After a slow start, the Magic are 16-12 in their last 28 games
• Check out the Magic vs Hornets odds below, plus injury updates and a prediction

The NBA action gets underway early on Sunday as the Magic (21-32, 8-19 away) visit the Hornets (15-39, 7-16 home) at 1 pm ET. Charlotte enters play losers of three straight, while Orlando has won two of its past three.

The Magic were all over the news following their victory on Friday versus the Timberwolves, thanks to a full blown melee that resulted in multiple ejections. Suspensions are likely coming to at least Mo Bamba, but his availability isn’t moving the line one way or another.

Speaking of the line, oddsmakers are siding with Orlando in the NBA odds, as they look to prolong Charlotte’s miserable season.

Magic vs Hornets Odds

Odds as of February 4th at DraftKings Sportsbook. Get the DraftKings Sportsbook bonus code to bet on the Magic vs Hornets game.

The Magic are currently 1-point favorites, in a game without a total as of Saturday evening. The contest will take place at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, NC, a building where the Hornets have won just seven times at in 23 tries.

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Magic vs Hornets Betting Analysis

After a rough start to the season, Orlando has been playing good ball since early December. They’re 16-12 in their past 28 games, and their young roster is starting to turn heads around the league.

Paolo Banchero is at the forefront of the success, as he continues to further separate himself from the pack in the NBA ROY odds. Banchero leads the team in scoring, and ranks second on the roster in rebounds. He’s one of three front court players averaging at least 15 points a game, while seven Magic players in total score in double-figures per night.

Paolo Banchero: the Jack of all Trades 🔨 pic.twitter.com/i8ANqcWYdt

— Queen City Control Room (@QueenCityCtrlRm) January 26, 2023

That kind of balance is tough to find, and makes this team difficult to defend. Their length and athleticism is also a major problem for enemy defenders on most nights, even if their efficiency numbers aren’t where you’d expect.

The Magic rank 25th in offensive rating, and 23rd in defensive rating. The offense has flashed a high ceiling lately however, scoring at least 119 points in four of their past nine games. Not surprisingly, they’re 4-0 in those outings, and should be set up for success at both ends of the court versus the Hornets.

That’s because Charlotte boasts the league’s worst offensive rating. The Hornets averaging only 112 points per game this season, and just 108 points per outing during their three-game skid.

Granted, they’ve been forced to play exactly half of their games without LaMelo Ball, their top scorer, but even when he’s been in the lineup the results have not been impressive. Charlotte is just 8-19 when he plays, compared to 7-20 when he sits.

LaMelo Ball over last 2 games:

17 PPG
6.5 ToPG
9-32 FG (28%)
6-24 3PT (25%)

PLAYING LIKE HE WANTS TO GO BACK TO LITHUANIA 🇱🇹 👀🔥💯 pic.twitter.com/Gn1KffITdf

— Hater Central (@TheHateCentral) January 29, 2023

Terry Rozier has done his best to pick up the offensive slack with or without Ball, but the cupboard is relatively bare behind them. Kelly Oubre Jr. (hand), the team’s third leading scorer, is out indefinitely, while backup guard Cody Martin (knee) will sit on Sunday as well.

Magic vs Hornets Predictions

Charlotte has faced Orlando twice this season, averaging just 102.5 points per game. Defensively, the Hornets don’t grade out quite so poorly, but it’s close. Charlotte ranks 27th in defensive rating and 28th in points allowed per night.

The combination of lacklustre defense and inefficient offense has led to a terrible record against the spread for the Hornets. Charlotte has the fifth lowest cover rate in the league, and is a dismal 7-13 ATS over their past 20 games. They’re 8-15 against the spread at home, failing to cover in five of their last seven outings at the Spectrum Center.

NBA Top ATS Record

Orlando on the other hand, has been a spread crusher this season. The Magic are 30-22-1 ATS, which amounts to the third best cover rate in the league. They’ve beaten the number nine times in their past 12 games, and are playing some of their best ball of the campaign at the moment.

Pick: Orlando Magic -1 (-110)