The Orlando Magic is on a great run. Their recent win over the Detroit Pistons, show what kind of professionals they are. Magic took charge from the opening quarter, but the Pistons narrowed the gap to just one point in the third. Despite the pressure, Orlando stayed calm and confident.
They knew the outcome was in their hands. That’s what separates a solid team from the rest—they handle adversity, whether it’s fatigue, injuries, or anything else.
Good teams make wins seem effortless, pushing through and leaving no room for doubt about the final result. They don’t let the moment get to them. On the other hand, Charlotte Hornets, couldn’t win their previous match even when their star LaMelo Ball dropped 50 points. A tough loss to Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday, falling 125-119.
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Back on Nov. 12, the Magic triumphed over the Hornets 114-89 in the Emirates NBA Cup at the Kia Center. Now, they meet again for the second of four scheduled regular-season games. Let us take a look at the injury reports of both teams.
But in one major blow for the Hornets, Grant Williams is out indefinitely after tearing his right ACL. The injury occurred late in the fourth quarter during Charlotte’s 125-119 loss to the Bucks on Saturday. Williams has played in 16 games this season, starting seven, and has averaged 10.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.1 steals in just under 30 minutes per game.
POSITION | STARTER | 2nd | 3rd |
PG | LaMelo Ball | Tre Mann | Vasilije Micic |
SG | Brandon Miller | Seth Curry | Tre Mann |
SF | Josh Green | Cody Martin | Brandon Miller |
PF | Miles Bridges | Tidjane Salaun | Josh Green |
C | Nick Richards | Moussa Diabate | Taj Gibson |
Jared Rhoden sat out Friday’s G League win for the Greensboro Swarm against the College Park Skyhawks because of a shoulder issue. The team hasn’t shared more specifics about the injury, and for now, he’s listed as day-to-day. That’s all. No more players on the injury report for the Hornets!
Can the Orlando Magic keep getting victories?
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Paolo Banchero will miss his 13th consecutive game after tearing his right oblique in Chicago on October 30. As for Wendell Carter Jr., he’s still listed as questionable for a fourth straight game because of left-foot plantar fasciitis. He hasn’t played since he exited Orlando’s game in Dallas on November 3. It’s a tough blow for the team, but injuries are part of the game. Hopefully, both players recover soon and return to get the Magic back on track.
POSITION | STARTER | 2nd | 3rd |
PG | Jalen Suggs | Anthony Black | Cole Anthony |
SG | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope | Gary Harris | Cole Anthony |
SF | Franz Wagner | Jett Howard | Gary Harris |
PF | Tristan da Silva | Jonathan Isaac | Franz Wagner |
C | Wendell Carter Jr. | Moritz Wagner | Goga Bitadze |
Magic coach Jamahl Mosley provided an update on Saturday before the game against Detroit, saying, “He was on the court today. He’s gone through some pretty, pretty strenuous workouts, so we’re going to continue to see how he responds to those and we’ll go from there.”
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Jalen Suggs, who left the Pistons game with a sore left hamstring and didn’t return for the second half, is not listed on the injury report. It seems like he’s good to go for the upcoming game against Charlotte.
So who do you think will come out on top between these teams?
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Debate
Can the Magic's teamwork continue to outshine the Hornets' reliance on LaMelo Ball's solo heroics?
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Can the Magic's teamwork continue to outshine the Hornets' reliance on LaMelo Ball's solo heroics?
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