The Orlando Magic (1-4) and Charlotte Hornets (2-2) will face off in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m. ET from the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. The game will broadcast live on FDSSE.
The Magic are 3-point favorites (Orlando -3), with the over/under set at 240.5 total points. The Magic are -150 favorites to win outright on the moneyline, while the Hornets are +125 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Magic vs. Hornets predictions and NBA picks for Thursday, October 30.
My Magic vs Hornets Prediction
- Magic vs Hornets pick: Collin Sexton Over 17.5 Points (-125)
My Hornets vs Magic best bet is on Collin Sexton to go over 17.5 points, with the best price currently available at BetMGM. But as always, make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Magic vs Hornets Odds
| Magic Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-3 -110 | 240.5 -110o / -110u | -150 |
| Hornets Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+3 -110 | 240.5 -110o / -110u | +125 |
Magic vs Hornets NBA Preview
Who is this a get right spot for?
It should be Orlando… it should be Orlando… especially given what we just saw from Charlotte two days ago in Miami.
But the Magic haven't looked good, really, at all this season. They stole a victory against the 3-1 Heat in their season opener and haven't won a game since.
Against Miami, Orlando trailed as many as 12 and was down eight with under seven minutes to go before rallying.
Both teams have gone in opposite directions since, with the Magic dropping games to Atlanta, Chicago and the 76ers. And then, Detroit had its way with them, winning 135-116 just last night in Michigan.
Orlando is playing faster on purpose, which is good for eighth in pace, but they're still just 26th in offense.
The increased pace has hindered their generally elite defense, which is only 22nd — a ranking that dropped six spots last night alone.
Orlando is also dead last in three-point attempts per game (28.2), three-point makes (8.8), and third to last in three-point percentage (31.2). They are second in free throw makes per game (26.8) and first in attempts (36.6), yet they rank just 25th in percentage (73.2).
And you want to guess who the worst against-the-spread team in the league is? Orlando — they're 0-5.
Charlotte is 3-1 ATS with a much less damning profile to date, even though they're very likely not to be where we'd expect Orlando to be at the end of the season, and this is coming from someone with a +600 ticket for them to sneak into the Play-In.
Charlotte was run out of the gym by Miami 144-117 on Tuesday, but covered in their wins over the Nets (136-117) and Wizards (139-113), plus their four-point, 125-121 loss to the 76ers.
Notably, Charlotte ranks fourth in three-point percentage (40.7 percent) and second in makes (16.5), despite being ninth in attempts (40.5).
At sixth in pace, they'll happily run with Orlando, and they can't really stop anyone either (24th in defense), so we might be in for a lot of points.
The only injury for Orlando is Mo Wagner, who is not yet ready to return from ACL surgery. Charlotte will again miss Brandon Miller, Josh Green and Grant Williams.
Magic vs Hornets Prediction, Betting Analysis
I don't know how much longer Collin Sexton will shoot 58 percent from the field, but being an efficient secondary scorer is on brand and consistent with his career arc.
This season, he's averaging 18.5 points, with an under in only Game 1 (15 points), and going over 17.5 with 21, 20, and 18 points since then.
You'd like more attempts — he's just shy of 11 attempts and only at 2.5 threes attempted per game, but the percentages are insane, and Orlando is in soul-searching mode.
This is not the Magic defense or overall team profile we were promised. Desmond Bane hasn't been the hand-in-glove fit. Paolo Banchero hasn't delivered. Tyus Jones looks washed. And Jalen Suggs hardly plays.
Do I think Orlando gets it right at some point?
Sure. But not tonight. And the way they look — plus the metrics we outlined earlier — this is a good opportunity to roll with the hot hand of Sexton to go over 17.5 points again in what projects to be yet another game with pace and points.
Pick: Collin Sexton Over 17.5 Points (-125)
Spread
I'm making no move on the Spread.
Moneyline
I'm also making no bets on the Moneyline
Over/Under
I'm taking Collin Sexton over 17.5 points.
Hornets vs Magic Betting Trends
