Win, they usually’re in. If they lose, their season’s over.
There’s loads at stake for the Orlando Magic forward of their do-or-die play-in affair towards the Charlotte Hornets. On the heels of two-straight disappointing losses, will they survive on their residence ground?!
We requested our panelists!
Ethan Skolnick: Hornets 116, Magic 105
The Magic have shocked earlier than this season, getting off the mat when it appeared they had been executed. But this appears totally different. Paolo Banchero has been wildly inefficient the previous two video games, the noise round Jamahl Mosley has by no means been louder and Franz Wagner nonetheless is not fairly himself. Charlotte is coming off a rousing additional time win towards Miami, after which has had two full days of relaxation. The Magic might want to lock in on the Hornets’ three-point shooters early, and hope Kon Knueppel continues to wrestle — nevertheless it’s arduous to see the Magic scoring sufficient to maintain any type of lead. Maybe Desmond Bane carries Orlando to a clutch win; he is executed it loads. But the extra possible result’s Hornets 116, Magic 105.
Matt Hanifan: Hornets 117, Magic 108
When it involves projecting the outcome of postseason sequence or, on this case, a one-game pattern, I do not love utilizing common season matchups as a foundation. Anything can occur in simply one game, particularly in a win-or-go-home state of affairs the place each groups’ backs are towards the wall. However, it is value noting the Hornets gained three of their 4 conferences — with a mean margin of victory of 20.3 factors in these three wins. They have additionally been enjoying their greatest basketball over the final three months — whereas it has been something however for the Magic. Charlotte is 30-12 since Jan. 15 (59-win tempo) with the NBA’s second-best NET (plus-10.2); Orlando is 23-19 since then (45-win tempo) with the 18th-best NET (plus-0.2). I additionally assume the Hornets are a stylistic nightmare for Orlando, so I’m going with them right here.
Amir Motameni: Hornets 118, Magic 112
I believe the Hornets win this and seize the closing playoff spot. It gained’t be fairly, however they discover a manner in a detailed one. I’ve acquired the Hornets profitable this one on the highway, 118-112. Charlotte has been enjoying with extra urgency down the stretch, and I believe that carries over into this matchup.
Ryan Kaminski: Hornets 110, Magic 97
Hornets win huge. Does a reverse jinx work if I say it out loud? If Orlando doesn’t run Charlotte off the 3pt line and alter its mindset from powerful leap pictures to drive and kicks, it will likely be arduous to maintain up with Charlotte’s machine of threes and offensive rebounds. If Orlando does discover the proper stability to drag out a win, they immediately have a complete playoff sequence in entrance of them to vary the narrative of their season.
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