After splitting a pair of games during their European doubleheader and conquering any lingering jet lag, the Orlando Magic will return to the court to face the visiting Charlotte Hornets on Thursday night.
Orlando defeated Memphis last Thursday in Berlin before the teams traveled to London, where the Grizzlies evened the two-game set with a 126-109 victory on Sunday.
The Magic will face an improving Charlotte team that rallied in the second half before losing 94-87 to the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday. The Hornets are 3-3 in their last six games.
Orlando will look for a quick start after being outscored 79-46 in the first quarters combined against the Grizzlies.
Forward Franz Wagner is averaging a team-high 22.2 points for the Magic, who trailed by 33 points midway through the second quarter in Sunday’s loss.
“There’s things we’re going to have to correct and clean up — that’s with every game whether you win or lose,” Orlando coach Jamahl Mosley said. “Our ability to start a little stronger, learn a little faster and have a sense of urgency to start the game is something that was trending. So we’ve got to make sure we clean that up.”
Orlando is monitoring the status of guard Jalen Suggs, who has missed the last seven games due to a right knee MCL bruise. Suggs is listed as questionable for Thursday’s contest, while center Moe Wagner is expected to be available after missing Sunday’s game due to left knee injury management.
The Magic returned home from Europe on Monday and rested Tuesday before practicing on Wednesday. Forward Paolo Banchero said the team is optimistic about the path ahead.
“The group is together,” he said. “We all trust each other and have each other’s backs. Heading into this back-half (of the season), we need to find a way to string some consistent basketball together and get wins. Hopefully, we can go on a streak here because we’re right in the middle of the standings.”
Orlando has split its first two meetings against the Hornets this season. The Magic won 123-107 in Charlotte on Oct. 30 before losing 120-105 at home on Dec. 26.
The Hornets trailed 56-32 at the half and never led in Wednesday’s loss to Cleveland. Brandon Miller led Charlotte with 24 points and rookie Kon Knueppel added 21 points and 11 rebounds.
Miller has scored at least 23 points in four consecutive games for the Hornets, who shot 8 of 47 (17%) from 3-point range in Wednesday’s loss.
Charlotte guard LaMelo Ball came off the bench as part of a plan to manage his minutes. He finished with two points on 1-of-15 shooting from the field, including 0 of 10 from 3-point range.
“Regardless of the shooting numbers, he continued to scrap and claw defensively,” Hornets coach Charles Lee said. “His engagement there was really good. Offensively, taking some good shots, trying to find his rhythm in pick-and-roll, but he also tried to get on the offensive glass a couple times.”
Knueppel was asked after the game if Ball’s absence in the starting lineup contributed to the Hornets’ slow start.
“It’s a little different when (LaMelo) is coming off the bench,” Knueppel said. “It’s a little bit of adjustment, as we’re trying to manage his minutes in the back-to-backs, but we’ve just got to be sharper.”
