The Charlotte Hornets will take on the Orlando Magic in a Southeast Division matchup on Thursday night at the Kia Center in Orlando. Both teams enter the game coming off recent losses, with the Magic favored by 4.5 points. Injuries will sideline key players for both sides.
The Charlotte Hornets (16-28) travel to face the Orlando Magic (23-19) on January 22, 2026, in a pivotal Southeast Division contest. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET at the Kia Center in Orlando, Florida. The Hornets sit fourth in the division and hold a 9-15 road record this season, while the Magic lead the Southeast and boast a strong 13-6 mark at home.
Charlotte is reeling from a 94-87 defeat to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Orlando fell 126-109 to the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday. The Magic hold a historical edge, leading the all-time series 67-61 and winning five of the last six meetings against the Hornets.
Injuries will impact both rosters. For the Hornets, center Mason Plumlee is out with a groin issue. The Magic will miss guard Jalen Suggs (knee) and forward Franz Wagner (ankle).
Betting lines from DraftKings Sportsbook list Orlando as a 4.5-point favorite, with an over/under of 223.5 points. The moneyline stands at Charlotte +154 and Orlando -185. Recent trends show the total going over in four of Charlotte's last six games and all three of Orlando's most recent outings. The Hornets are 6-4 against the spread in their last 10 games, compared to the Magic's 3-7 record in the same span.
The SportsLine Projection Model, which simulates games 10,000 times, predicts the over on the total. It projects Charlotte's LaMelo Ball to average 19.9 points, with five Hornets players scoring 12.9 or more. For Orlando, Paolo Banchero is expected to score 22 points, joined by six Magic players tallying 10.8 or more. The model also has an against-the-spread pick succeeding in nearly 70% of simulations.
Fans can stream the game on Fubo.
