Hornets at Magic
The road-weary Charlotte Hornets go after their 10th straight victory in the series when they visit the Orlando Magic on Wednesday night in a battle of disappointing teams. The Hornets, who entered Tuesday seven games out of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, have dropped four straight contests in a seven-day span after a 123-103 setback against Toronto on Sunday.
“Our effort was good,” Charlotte coach Steve Clifford told reporters after the loss to Toronto. “We lacked some details that you need to play against them defensively. Sometimes they say the schedule can catch up with you. It’s not the whole reason we lost (Sunday), but this last stretch has been a lot of traveling and you can see it.” The Hornets have won both games in the season series at home with Kemba Walker averaging 31.5 points against the Magic, who are 4-3 in their last seven but have dropped two in a row after a 105-101 loss at Chicago on Monday. Former first-round pick Mario Hezonja is thriving with more playing time for Orlando, averaging 16.7 points this month and 23.5 in the last two games. Magic guard Evan Fournier is the leading active scorer (18.0) and has registered at least 20 in three consecutive games.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Southeast (Charlotte), FS Florida (Orlando)
ABOUT THE HORNETS (23-33): Walker, who leads the team in scoring (22.9) and assists (5.8), has been red hot of late while averaging 28.4 points in the last seven games and draining 35-of-71 from 3-point range in the past eight. Center Dwight Howard is fifth in the league with 35 double-doubles after registering 17 points and 13 rebounds against Toronto and is second on the team in scoring (15.6). Guard Nicolas Batum (12.0 points per game) was 0-for-10 from the field against the Raptors and forward Frank Kaminsky is averaging 13.7 points the last three contests.
ABOUT THE MAGIC (18-38): Orlando could get two of their three top scorers back before the end of the month as center Nikola Vucevic (hand) and forward Aaron Gordon (hip) would add almost 36 points per game back to the lineup. Hezonja, who missed a 3-pointer late in Monday’s loss that could have won it, has scored at least 20 four times this season and three of them have come in the last five contests. Small forward Jonathon Simmons is averaging 16.8 points on 50 percent shooting this month, scoring a season-high 34 in the upset of Cleveland on Feb. 6.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Charlotte C Willy Hernangomez (4.3 points) has yet to play his first game since being acquired from New York.
2. Orlando C Bismack Biyombo (5.8 points) has scored in double figures in three of his last four contests.
3. The Magic entered Tuesday tied for 27th in the league in scoring defense (109.9).