Charlotte Hornets at Orlando Magic 2/14/19: Starting Lineups, Matchup Preview, Betting Odds
Charlotte Hornets at Orlando Magic Preview
Tonight, the Charlotte Hornets (27-29) travel to Orlando to face the Magic (26-32) in a Southeast division showdown on Valentine’s Day. The Hornets, led by all-star starter Kemba Walker, currently lead the mediocre division, but they only sit in seventh place in the Eastern Conference due to their lackluster overall record. A win against the Magic would not only help them in the standings but would also push back a team that currently sits a few games behind them. The last game of a four-game road trip for the Hornets, they will look to finish strong in their last game before the all-star break this weekend.
On the other hand, the Magic probably wish they didn’t have an all-star break, as they’ve won six out of their last seven games, including all of their last four, and are currently carrying a lot of positive momentum after a rough January. Coming off of a big win against the Pelicans, their first 30+ point road win since 2009, the Magic will look to continue their momentum as they return to Orlando to play their divisional foe.
TV Schedule
Date: 02/14/19
Time: 7:00pm ET
Arena: Amway Center, Orlando, FL
Channel: FSSE-CHA, FSFL
Charlotte Hornets Starting Lineup
| Position | Starter |
|---|---|
| PG | Kemba Walker |
| SG | Jeremy Lamb |
| SF | Nicolas Batum |
| PF | Marvin Williams |
| C | Cody Zeller |
Hornets Analysis
The Hornets are a team that have hovered around the .500 mark all season, yet they currently find themselves in a playoff position as a division leader. Currently sitting 2 games below the .500 mark, the Hornets have recently slid down the standings, and they now find themselves sitting precariously, only one game ahead of the 9th place Heat as they approach the all-star break. The Magic also only sit two games behind the Hornets, and a win in Orlando would be extremely important for the team in the playoff race.
This season, the Hornets have unquestionably been led by all-star guard Kemba Walker. Walker is currently averaging a career-high 25.2 points per game, but he’s been putting up even bigger numbers in recent weeks. In his last 5 games, Walker has scored at least 30 points while putting up big minutes for his team. No doubt Walker is looking forward to thrilling hometown fans in the all-star game this Sunday in Charlotte, but he will look to have one more big game against the Magic to gain momentum going into the break.
Shooting guard Jeremy Lamb is another experienced player having a career year with the Hornets this season. Coming off of back-to-back outings with at least 20 points, Lamb has been an important complement to Walker’s play. However, Lamb had a disappointing day from behind the arc in the Hornets loss to the Pacers on Monday, going 1-8 on 3-point attempts, and he will look to gain his shooting stroke back against the Magic tonight.
Hornets Quick Links: Hornets Starting Lineup, Hornets Roster, Hornets Depth Chart, Hornets Injuries, Hornets News, Hornets Schedule
Orlando Magic Starting Lineup
| Position | Starter |
|---|---|
| PG | DJ Augustin |
| SG | Evan Fournier |
| SF | Jonathan Isaac |
| PF | Aaron Gordon |
| C | Nikola Vucevic |
Contents
Magic Analysis
The Magic are officially back within 1 game of the final Eastern Conference playoff spot after an improbable stretch has seen them win six of their last seven games. Before their recent success, the Magic had last seven of their previous eight games and looked to be drifting away from the playoff picture, but the recent run has reignited Orlando’s playoff hopes.
Before the Magic’s last game, I noted that second-year forward Jonathan Isaac had come close to breaking his career high in points on numerous occasions, but in the Magic’s win against the Pelicans, Isaac finally eclipsed the mark. Isaac finally looked comfortable shooting the basketball, and he added an impressive 20 points to a Magic offense firing on all cylinders. On the defensive end, Isaac also helped get the job done by using his long wingspan to record 3 blocks to shore up the interior. Isaac has embraced his big minutes, and he will look to continue to impress the Magic staff against the Hornets.
Going into the All-Star break, I think it’s only appropriate to note the outstanding play of first-time All-Star Nikola Vucevic. The Montenegrin center has become the most recognizable face of the organization, and while he may not be the most extroverted guy off the court, he lets his play speak for itself. Vucevic is averaging a ridiculous 20 points and 12 rebounds per game, and nights like his most recent outing, where he scored 25 points and collected 17 rebounds, have become commonplace. He has been a major key for the Magic’s success this season, and the organization will need him to continue playing well down the stretch to reach the playoffs.
Magic Quick Links: Magic Starting Lineup, Magic Roster, Magic Depth Chart, Magic Injuries, Magic News, Magic Schedule
Charlotte Hornets at Orlando Magic Betting Odds
The Magic have opened up as 3 point favorites in tonight’s matchup in Orlando. The Magic are 31-26 ATS overall this season, but in the team’s 2 previous matchups, the Hornets have gone 2-0, beating the Magic by a combined 57 points. However, the Hornets have struggled on the road this season, only going 12-16 ATS away from Charlotte. The over-under for this game opened up at 215 points.
Odds & Line Movement Links: Charlotte Hornets at Orlando Magic, Vegas Odds (All NBA Games Today)
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