Magic vs Hornets Prediction - NBA Picks 3/3/23

Charlotte Hornets (20-44) vs Orlando Magic (26-37)

Game Info: Friday, March 3, 2023 at 7:00 pm (Spectrum Center)

Betting Odds: Charlotte Hornets +3.5 -- Over/Under: 229.5 Click Here for the Latest Odds

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The Orlando Magic pay a visit to the Charlotte Hornets at the Spectrum Center on Friday night.

The Orlando Magic have been in decent shape as they’ve split their last 10 games overall, but they will be hoping to bounce back here after getting run over by the Bucks in a 139-117 road loss on Wednesday. Markelle Fultz led the starters with 21 points, seven rebounds and five assists, Cole Anthony led all scorers with 28 points off the bench while Wendell Carter Jr. chipped in with 19 points and 10 rebounds. As a team, the Magic shot 45 percent from the field and nine of 33 from the 3-point line as they kept pace with the Bucks early on until they leaked 45 points in the second quarter and things only got worse in the second half as the Bucks never took their foot off the gas.

Meanwhile, the Charlotte Hornets have been in fine form as they were on a five-game win streak before they got stopped in their tracks by the Suns in a 105-91 loss on Wednesday. Kelly Oubre Jr. led the team with 26 points and nine rebounds, Terry Rozier added 20 points with five assists while Gordon Hayward chipped in with 15 points. As a team, the Hornets shot just 36 percent from the field and nine of 33 from the 3-point line as they struggled to contain the new-look Suns from the start and had to claw their way back into the contest with 32 points in the third quarter, only to get blown away in the fourth quarter where they managed just 18 points.

Looking at the betting trends, the Magic are 14-6 ATS in their last 20 road games and 1-4 ATS in their last five games overall. The Hornets are 4-1 ATS in their last five home games, 4-9 ATS in their last 13 games against a team with a losing record and 5-1 ATS in their last six games overall.

Head to head, the under is 4-0 in the last four meetings overall and the Magic are 5-2 ATS in the last seven meetings in Charlotte.

The Magic are a little shorthanded again as Jonathan Isaac has been ruled out, while the Hornets will again be missing LaMelo Ball. The Magic were on a nice run before they got stopped in their tracks by the red-hot Bucks on Wednesday, but now they’re up against a Hornets team who were on fire before losing Ball to a fractured ankle. The Magic are 14-6 ATS in their last 20 road games and they are 5-2 ATS in the last seven meetings in Charlotte, so I’ll back the Magic to take advantage of the shorthanded Hornets in this spot.

Peter’s Pick Orlando -3.5

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The pick in this article is the opinion of the writer, not a PickDawgz site consensus.

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