LaMelo Ball delivered a stellar 44-point performance, but the Charlotte Hornets fell to the Orlando Magic 95-84 on Monday night. Ball’s near triple-double included nine rebounds and seven assists, yet Charlotte struggled with turnovers and a depleted roster.
Orlando’s Franz Wagner scored 13 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter, propelling the Magic to their 12th win of the season.
Jonathan Isaac contributed with three crucial fourth-quarter three-pointers, while Moritz Wagner and Cole Anthony each added 16 points and eight rebounds off the bench.
Charlotte, playing without its top two centers, faced significant challenges on both ends. Despite a double-double from Brandon Miller, who tallied 20 points and 10 rebounds, the Hornets couldn’t maintain offensive rhythm.
The duo of Ball and Miller combined for 13 of the team’s 27 turnovers, leading to 33 points for Orlando.
The Magic shot just 39% from the field but capitalized on Charlotte’s miscues. Their bench outscored the Hornets’ reserves 53-15, with Anthony and Wagner providing significant contributions. Isaac’s timely shooting sealed the game, with Orlando taking control early in the fourth quarter.
For the Hornets, Ball’s standout performance followed his career-high 50-point game against Milwaukee on Saturday. However, with key players like Mark Williams and Nick Richards sidelined, Charlotte struggled to find offensive consistency.
Charlotte’s four-game home winning streak was snapped, dropping their record to 6-11. Orlando improved to 12-7, showcasing depth and resilience despite their own roster absences, including Paolo Banchero and Wendell Carter Jr.
