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FILE – Paolo Banchero #5 of the Orlando Magic celebrates during the second half against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on February 27, 2023 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images/AFP
Paolo Banchero scored 31 points and the visiting Orlando Magic scored heavily in the first three quarters en route to beating the Charlotte Hornets 117-106 on Saturday night.
The Magic’s next three leading scorers were reserves: Cole Anthony with 16 points, Jalen Suggs with 15 and Moritz Wagner with 13. Wendell Carter Jr. added 12 points and a team-high nine rebounds.
The Magic have alternated wins and losses for 11 consecutive games, a streak that began with a victory in Charlotte on February 5.
“I can always get buckets, so whenever I’m asked, I’m fine.”@Pp_doesit in W pic.twitter.com/eduURCDD3T
– Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) March 4, 2023
Kelly Oubre Jr. scored 29 points to go with 10 rebounds, but the Hornets lost their second game in a row since losing point guard LaMelo Ball to a fractured ankle earlier in the week. Terry Rozier sent 22 points, Gordon Hayward 17 and Mark Williams 13 points for Charlotte, which was hurt by 21 turnovers.
Banchero scored 16 points in the first 7 1/2 minutes of the third quarter as the Magic built a 24-point lead.
The Hornets cut the deficit to 96-87 with just over eight minutes left. Anthony 3-pointer and two baskets from Banchero stalked Charlotte’s momentum.
But Oubre’s 3-pointer made it 107-100 with 4:24 to play. The Hornets never got close. Banchero finished 13-for-26 from the field.
Gary Harris with the final touch on @OrlandoMagic win 🪶 pic.twitter.com/Tnh9Nlm2mA
— NBA (@NBA) March 4, 2023
Rozier and Oubre hit four treys each, but the Hornets’ only 3-pointer came from Hayward in the fourth quarter. The team shot 9-for-24 (37.5 percent) from distance for the game.
Franz Wagner scored nine points in the first quarter as the Magic led 31-26, but Wagner was done for the game when he limped off the court with a sprained left ankle. The spread reached 39-28 as the Hornets missed four consecutive shots and then committed a turnover.
Orlando led 64-48 at halftime, with Suggs and Anthony both posting 11 points. Suggs scored six points in the final three minutes of the half.
The Magic reserves outshot the Charlotte reserves 30-9 in the first half.
The Hornets shot 3-for-12 on first-half 3-pointers, missing their last four attempts from long range.
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