USA TODAY Sports

Injury Report

Hornets: OUT Curry (Ankle), Martin (Ankle) Ball (Ankle), Williams (Back)
QUESTIONABLE Richards (Foot)

Magic: QUESTIONABLE Fultz (Knee)

Game Preview

The injuries start coming and they don't stop coming (shoutout Smashmouth. All Star is a top five song of all-time). LaMelo Ball and Mark Williams have been on the shelf for weeks, and now Seth Curry and Caleb Martin will be joining them long-term with a pair of ankle sprains. Charlotte can not get out of the way of their own ankles. 

The Orlando Magic ride into the Queen City tonight firmly in the playoff picture having won eight of their last ten. Second-year star Paolo Banchero has turned into a matchup nightmare for teams across the league and the short-handed Hornets will have their hands full with Banchero this evening.

Orlando's season-long defense is the fourth best in the league via net rating, but their offense is in the dregs at 23. Scoring has been a struggle for the Magic. However, something has clicked in this ten game heater that Orlando has been on. Their defense still ranks in the top ten in their last ten, but their offense has jumped up to the fourth best in the league. Charlotte's top five post All Star break defense has their work cut out for them this evening.

Key Match-up: Paolo Banchero vs. Miles Bridges

It's a best-on-best match-up at the power forward position this evening. Banchero is averaging 22 points, six rebounds, and six assists in Orlando's last ten games, close to his career averages against Charlotte (24/8/6). Bridges has oft carried a poor Charlotte offensive attack, but tonight he'll have to do it all on both ends of the floor if Charlotte is going to spring the upset over Orlando.

Projected Starting Fives

Magic Hornets

Markelle Fultz

Tre Mann

Jalen Suggs

Bryce McGowens

Franz Wagner

Brandon Miller

Paolo Banchero

Miles Bridges

Wendell Carter Jr.

Nick Richards

More must-reads:

TODAY'S BEST
Suns to hire ex-NBA champion as new head coach
MVP Jokic, Nuggets blow out Timberwolves on road in Game 3
Panthers dominate Bruins again to take 2-1 series lead
ESPN has big plans for Caitlin Clark's WNBA debut
Angels superstar explains why he chose not to play through knee injury
Bears make big, but not surprising Caleb Williams announcement
Cardinals to sign WR who commanded extensive interest
Jayson Tatum refutes narrative that Celtics are a 'superteam'
Watch: Kyle Busch crashes in Truck Series race at Darlington
Oilers work overtime to tie Canucks at 1-1
Broncos release former Super Bowl champion WR
Former NBA big man sentenced to 40 months in prison
Peyton Manning reveals Bill Belichick's role on 'ManningCast' for this season
NBA Hall of Famer questions Knicks longevity in face of high playoff workloads
Falcons rookie QB Michael Penix Jr. details first interaction with Kirk Cousins
Insider reveals Mike Budenholzer's humongous contract figures to be Suns HC
Watch: Novak Djokovic accidentally struck, knocked down by metal water bottle
Legendary Cowboys HC clarifies misunderstanding regarding HOFer's death with same name
Raiders HC names leader in Aidan O'Connell, Gardner Minshew competition
Former MLB infielder Sean Burroughs dies at 43 years old