Paolo Banchero scored 32 points and the Orlando Magic stiffened on defense late in the game to overcome some second-half snags for a 111-104 road victory against the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday night.
Franz Wagner racked up 26 points and Anthony Black posted 20 points off the bench to help the Magic (35-38) win for the fifth time in a seven-game stretch.
Banchero has scored 30 or more points in four consecutive games. Reserve Caleb Houston, who drained four 3-pointers, had 12 points.
LaMelo Ball’s 25 points on 9-for-13 shooting weren’t enough for the Hornets (18-54), who were playing in their first game since they were eliminated from playoff contention. They’ve lost five of their last six games.
Josh Green and reserve Nick Smith Jr. added 13 points apiece and Miles Bridges provided 11 points for Charlotte, which shot 42 percent. Bridges was 5-for-19.
Black’s dunk snapped a tie and four Wagner free throws padded the lead as the Magic were on the way to picking up a much-needed victory against one of the league’s bottom teams. Orlando is battling for postseason position in the Eastern Conference.
The Hornets pulled even on Smith’s 3-pointer with 2:18 left before stalling again on offense. His basket marked the only points for Charlotte in the last 3 1/2 minutes.
Ball, who supplied nine assists, committed two turnovers in the last 80 seconds.
The Magic finished 13-for-42 on 3-pointers but helped make up for that with a 50-38 advantage on the boards. Orlando’s Wendell Carter Jr. had a team-high 11 rebounds.
Mark Williams pulled in 13 rebounds for the Hornets.
Orlando held a 63-53 halftime lead, but the Hornets used a 12-0 run in the third quarter to go ahead. The score was tied at 83-all going to the fourth quarter.
Orlando improved to 4-0 against Charlotte this season.
–Field Level Media
