| MATCHUP | Charlotte Hornets | Orlando Magic |
|---|---|---|
| Team Records | 11-20 | 17-14 |
| Where | Kia Center, Orlando, FL | |
| When | Friday, December 26, 2025 | |
| Time | 07:00 PM EST | |
| TV | FanDuel SN FL | |
The Charlotte Hornets pay a visit to the Orlando Magic at the Kia Center on Friday night. Here’s a Charlotte Hornets vs Orlando Magic Prediction. This article will include a Charlotte Hornets vs Orlando Magic Pick.
Charlotte Hornets Betting Preview
The Charlotte Hornets have been in decent form as they’ve split their last eight games and they will be eager to build some momentum after snapping a two-game skid with a 126-109 win over the Wizards on Tuesday. LaMelo Ball led the team with 23 points and nine assists, Brandon Miller added 20 points with four assists while Kon Knueppel chipped in with 19 points.
As a team, the Hornets shot 45 percent from the field and 20 of 50 from the 3-point line as they trailed going into the halftime break despite pouring in 38 points in the second quarter. However, they did most of their damage in the fourth quarter where they outscored the Wizards by 34-19 to come away with the much-needed blowout win in front of their home fans.
Orlando Magic Betting Preview
Meanwhile, the Orlando Magic have been in similar form as they have also split their last eight games and they will be feeling pretty good after outlasting the Trail Blazers in a 110-106 road win on Tuesday. Desmond Bane led the way with 23 points and five assists, Anthony Black added 22 points with seven rebounds and six assists while Tyus Jones chipped in with 16 points and seven assists on six of nine shooting.
As a team, the Magic shot 44 percent from the field and 15 of 33 from the 3-point line as they exploded for 38 points in the second quarter to jump out to a 17-point lead. However, they allowed the Trail Blazers back into the contest and really had to scrap to the end to escape with their second win in three games.
Why the Orlando Magic will win
- The Hornets have lost 14 of their last 15 road games following a home win.
- The Magic have won 10 of their last 11 games against the Hornets.
- The Magic have covered the spread in each of their last six games as home favorites against the Hornets.
- The Hornets have failed to cover the spread in each of their last four games at Kia Center.
Why the Charlotte Hornets will win
- The Magic have lost three of their last four games as favorites against Southeast Division opponents following a win.
- The Hornets have won seven of their last 12 games as underdogs against Southeast Division opponents following a win.
- The Hornets have covered the spread in each of their last four games as underdogs against opponents who are on the first leg of a back-to-back.
- The Magic have failed to cover the spread in six of their last seven games following a win.
Total Points Facts
- Six of the Hornets’ last seven games as road underdogs have gone UNDER the total points line.
- Five of the Magic’s last six night games against Southeast Division opponents have gone UNDER the total points line.
Orlando Magic Player Facts
- Wendell Carter Jr. is one of only two qualified players in the league to be leading their team in rebounds per game (7.5) and three-point shooting percentage (41.4%) this season.
- Anthony Black is one of only eight players to have scored 30+ points off the bench in a game this season.
Charlotte Hornets Player Facts
- LaMelo Ball ranks T6th in the Eastern Conference amongst qualified players for FT% (87.5%) this season.
- Miles Bridges ranks 13th in the Eastern Conference amongst qualified players for points per game (20.6) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- This season, 19.3% of the Magic’s scoring has come from the free-throw line – highest mark in the league.
- The Magic rank 2nd in the league for free throws made per game this season (22.7).
- The Hornets rank 29th in the league for opponent three-point percentage this season (38.3%).
- The Hornets rank 2nd in the league for opponent free throws made per game this season (16.9).
Charlotte Hornets vs Orlando Magic Prediction
The Hornets are still missing Mason Plumlee, Grant Williams and Ryan Kalkbrenner, while the Magic have ruled out Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs and Moritz Wagner once again. These teams last met at the start of the season on Oct. 30, and it was the Magic who rolled to a 123-107 win, but the Magic are banged up at the moment, which is why the line is so short.
The Hornets are coming into this game with a bit of momentum after smashing the Wizards in their last outing, but the Magic are still the more trustworthy team in my opinion. I think they can still grind out a narrow win and cover despite missing so many quality players.