Charlotte Hornets vs Orlando Magic Prediction 2/12/25 NBA Picks

The Charlotte Hornets have been in terrible form as they've lost 10 of their last 12 games overall and they will be hoping to avoid a third straight defeat after getting beaten by the Nets in a 97-89 road defeat on Monday. Moussa Diabate led the team with 21 points, 10 rebounds, and two blocks, Tidjane Salaun added 16 points off the bench while Nick Smith Jr chipped in with 13 points and five assists. As a team, the Hornets shot just 41 percent from the field and six of 31 from the 3-point line as they struggled to keep up with the Nets from the start and fell behind by 12 points going into halftime and by as many as 22 points in the third quarter before they finished the game with an 11-0 run to cut the deficit to single digits in the end. 

Meanwhile, the Orlando Magic have been in a slump as they've lost 11 of their last 14 games overall and they will be hoping for a better result after coming up just short of the Hawks in a 112-106 home defeat on Monday. Franz Wagner led the team with 37 points, seven rebounds, and three assists, while Paolo Banchero added 31 points with six rebounds and four assists but no other player finished in double figures in scoring. As a team, the Magic shot 47 percent from the field and 12 of 30 from the 3-point line as they poured in 35 points in the second quarter to take the lead into halftime, but they couldn't get enough scoring support from their role players and it cost them in the second half where the Hawks poured in 62 points to sneak away despite big games from Banchero and Wagner. 

Why the Orlando Magic will win

• The Magic have won 24 of their last 25 games at Kia Center against Eastern Conference opponents that held a losing record.
• The Hornets have lost each of their last nine games against Southeast Division opponents.
• The Magic have covered the spread in 10 of their last 11 games as favorites against Southeast Division opponents following a loss.
• The Hornets have failed to cover the spread in five of their last six games at Kia Center.

Why the Charlotte Hornets will win

• The Magic have lost each of their last three games as favorites against Southeast Division opponents.
• The Hornets have won each of their last seven Wednesday night games against Magic teams that held a losing record.
• The Magic have failed to cover the spread in seven of their last eight games.
• The Hornets have covered the spread in five of their last six games as underdogs following a loss.

The Hornets are coming in with the same squad while the Magic will again be without Jalen Suggs and Moritz Wagner. The Hornets don't have much to play for at this stage of the season and it certainly looked that way in their loss to the Nets on Monday as they were getting blown out before they finished with a late flurry. The Magic haven't really been much better than the Hornets as they are still mired in a season-worst slump, but they were more than competitive in a tough loss to the Hawks on Monday and I think they can get over the line if Banchero and Wagner have big games again. I think the Magic get a much-needed win at home in this one, but this line just seems too high for me.