Orlando Magic vs Charlotte Hornets Prediction, Odds & Player Props to Bet (Mar. 5)

• We’ve made our Hornets vs Magic prediction for Tuesday night
• The Tuesday NBA odds favor Paolo Banchero and the surging Magic
• Read below for Hornets vs Magic prediction, odds, and player props

An intriguing Eastern Conference clash is on tap Tuesday night as the surging Orlando Magic (35-26) visit the struggling Charlotte Hornets (15-46). Tip-off is scheduled for 7 PM ET at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte. The game will be televised nationally on NBA TV.

Despite the large gap in the standings, this matchup features two of the brightest young stars in the league: Orlando’s Paolo Banchero and Charlotte’s Brandon Miller. Oddsmakers are siding with the visitors, pricing the Magic as -375 road favorites.

Let’s get into our Hornets vs Magic prediction, as we break down the odds and the best player props to bet.

Orlando Magic vs Charlotte Hornets Odds

In the Magic vs Hornets odds, Paolo Banchero’s team is a notable -375 road favorite on the moneyline, giving them 79% implied win probability.

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Odds as of March 5, 2024, at BetMGM Sportsbook. The launch of NC Sports Betting is just around the corner! Bettors in North Carolina can pre-register at the BetMGM app in North Carolina or check out NC betting promos. Make sure to use promo code “SBDNC” when registering at MGM.

Magic Betting Trends

The Magic have been red-hot, winning six of their last seven games, including a convincing 113-91 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Sunday. They have covered the spread in an impressive 12 of their last 16 contests.

Orlando is playing excellent team basketball, ranking fifth in the NBA in defensive rating while getting balanced scoring from rising stars Banchero and Franz Wagner. Banchero averages 22.9 points per contest, while Wagner isn’t far behind at 22.9 ppg.

OH MY GOODNESS PAOLO BANCHERO 😱pic.twitter.com/Y9FPsBbX2G

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) March 4, 2024

The Magic have been outstanding, going 49-21 ATS this season, covering at an elite 70% clip. They have also dominated this head-to-head series recently, going 4-1 SU and 4-1 ATS over the last five meetings with Charlotte.

In terms of injuries, backup point guard Markelle Fultz (knee) is questionable to play. His absence would put more ball-handling responsibilities on starters Banchero and Wagner.

Hornets Betting Trends

While the Magic are rising in the NBA Championship odds, the Hornets’ season has gone completely off the rails. They have dropped four straight and nine of their last 11 games overall.

Injuries have decimated their roster, most notably to star point guard LaMelo Ball, who has been sidelined since late January with an ankle injury. Despite the poor results, Charlotte has been a solid 7-3 ATS over their last 10 games.

Clifford: LaMelo Ball (ankle) without timetable for return.

— Underdog NBA (@Underdog__NBA) February 29, 2024

Charlotte boasts an offensive rating of 107.6, which is 29th in the NBA. Defensively, things haven’t been much better. The Hornets have a defensive rating of 115.6, which is 26th in the league.

With Ball sidelined, Miles Bridges (21.4 ppg), Brandon Miller (16.7 ppg), and Terry Rozier (15.9 ppg) have attempted to pick up the slack. Nick Richards (foot) and Mark Williams (back) are also dealing with injuries that could sideline them. Charlotte’s lack of two big bodies is a massive disadvantage against Orlando’s size.

The Hornets are just 2-18 SU in their last 20 games against Eastern Conference opponents. They are at least coming to play for the home fans, going 5-1 ATS over their last six at the Spectrum Center.

Charlotte vs Orlando Player Props

Sportsbooks have a wide array of Hornets vs Magic player props available for Tuesday’s NBA game. Make sure you visit our NBA player props page to see which sportsbook has the best value for your desired player prop bet.

Oddsmakers are divided on whether Miles Bridges or Paolo Banchero will have the bigger performance for their respective teams on Tuesday. Both players’ over/under points total is listed at 21.5, although Bridges’ number is slightly more juiced to the “over.”

NBA player prop odds as of March 5th from a variety of top-rated NBA sportsbooks.

One of our favorite prop bets for Tuesday is for Wendell Carter Jr. to record over 7.5 rebounds. He’s averaged 10.5 rebounds in his two most recent games against the Hornets, and Charlotte is conceding 45.4 rebounds per game this season, which ranks 25th in the NBA.

Hornets vs Magic Prediction

The Magic have a significant advantage in this matchup, especially with the Hornets missing several key players due to injury. Orlando’s stingy defense should be able to contain Charlotte’s limited offensive firepower. Banchero and Wagner present major mismatches that the undermanned Hornets may struggle to deal with.

The Magic should be able to control this game from start to finish against the overmatched Hornets. Look for Banchero and Wagner to have big scoring nights while Carter cleans up on the boards. Unless Charlotte gets unconsciously hot from three, they likely won’t be able to keep pace.

For our Hornets vs Magic prediction, we’re taking the Magic -8.5 and the under of 207.5 in the NBA odds. Both teams struggle to score consistently, and the under has cashed in five of the past six meetings between these two Eastern Conference foes.

ORL-CHA Picks

• Magic -8.5 (-110)
• Under 207.5 Points (-110)