Orlando Magic vs. Charlotte Hornets: 3 Best Bets

Before the Orlando Magic finish the season series against the Charlotte Hornets, we have you covered with our three best bets.

Mar 19, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic forward Joe Ingles (7) passes the ball around Grant Williams of the Charlotte Hornets / Jeremy Reper-USA TODAY Sports

The Orlando Magic will take on the Charlotte Hornets tonight for the fourth and final time this season. The Magic have won all three of the previous matchups, and expect to do so again tonight against a Hornets team that is looking forward to a productive offseason.

With a challenging schedule to finish out the season, the Magic is only two games behind the Milwaukee Bucks for the second seed in the Eastern Conference. With two late-season matchups against the Bucks, Orlando could surge up the standings to end the season.

Mar 19, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic center Goga Bitadze (35) passes the ball against the Charlotte Hornets / Jeremy Reper-USA TODAY Sports

Caleb Houstan is questionable for the Magic, and the Hornets have a much more loaded injury report. Miles Bridges, Vasilije Micić, Brandon Miller, and Grant Williams are probable, while Nick Richards is questionable. Amari Bailey is doubtful, and LaMelo Ball, Seth Curry, Cody Martin, and Mark Williams are all out.

Keep it posted here for our three best bets, powered by the lines at SI Sportsbook.

The Lines

Point spread: Hornets +11.5 (-110)/Magic -11.5 (-118)

Money line: Hornets (+475)/Magic (-752)

Over/under: 205.5

Our Picks

Safe pick: Paolo Banchero OVER 21.5 points (-118)

Paolo Banchero has only averaged 19.2 points over his last five games but has posted 23, 22, and 13 points against the woeful Charlotte defense this season. After a dominant performance against the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday, expect him to use tonight's game as practice for future matchups against playoff-caliber teams to close out the season.

Opponent pick: Brandon Miller OVER 18.5 points (-110)

Averaging 21 points over his last five games, Brandon Miller would be the Rookie of the Year favorite if he wasn't in a rookie class with two historical players each with GOAT potential. He posted 20, 18, and 21 points against the Magic this season, and if Orlando can run away with it early, expect lackluster defense against him.

Team pick: Hornets +11.5 (-110)

The Magic should absolutely win this game, but after beating the Portland Trail Blazers by a single point and besting the Pelicans by nine, there is little recent evidence that Orlando can blow a team out, even one as bad as the Hornets. Expect Orlando to maintain a low double-digit lead for most of the game, but for Charlotte to make things hot in garbage time.