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Magic

97
Game StatusFinal

Hornets

124

Ball back in starting lineup, helps spark fast start as the Hornets beat Magic 124-97

Game Article

Game Recap

Noah Penda with the massive block at the rim
Noah Penda with the massive block at the rim

ORLANDO -- — LaMelo Ball returned to Charlotte's starting lineup and had 16 points, seven assists and six rebounds as the Hornets beat the Orlando Magic 124-97 on Thursday night.

Ball, who a night earlier had one of the worst shooting performances of his career when he came off the bench as part of a plan to manage his minutes, went 6 for 12 from the field and 4 for 8 from 3-point distance against Orlando. In a loss to Cleveland on Wednesday, the No. 3 pick in the 2020 draft finished with two points on 1-of-15 shooting, including 0 of 10 from 3-point range.

Brandon Miller scored 20 points to lead Charlotte's balanced effort. Collin Sexton came off the bench and scored 12 of his 19 points in the first half, Kon Knueppel and Tidjane Salaunadded added 13 apiece, and Miles Bridges, Moussa Diabate and Ryan Kalkbrenner each scored 10.

Paolo Banchero scored 23 points, and Desmond Bane added 21 for the Magic. Moritz Wagner scored 14, Noah Penda added 13 and Jeff Howard 10.

Back in the starting lineup, Ball played a role in the fast start for the Hornets that was missing against Cleveland a night earlier when they trailed by 21 points in the first quarter. Ball scored eight points in seven minutes on 3-for-3 shooting, including 2 for 2 from distance, as Charlotte led 35-20 after a period.

Ball had 11 points in 15 minutes in the first half as Charlotte built a 62-41 lead by the break with 55% (22 for 41) shooting from the floor, and 48% (11 for 23) from beyond the arc. The Hornets outscored Orlando 35-26 in the third and extended their lead to 30 points with a period remaining on the way to their fourth victory in nine games.

The Magic struggled throughout, shooting 33% (13 for 40), including 5 for 19 (26%) from distance in the first half.

Orlando was without guard Jalen Suggs, who missed his eighth straight game due to a right knee injury. Center Moe Wagner was also sidelined due to left knee management and could return to the lineup this weekend.

Up next

Hornets: Host the Washington Wizards on Saturday.

Magic: Host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday.

------

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Game Information

Game Information

Time, Location & Referees
Kia Center
Venue
Kia Center
Orlando, FL
Date & Time
12:00 AM, January 23, 2026
Coverage
FanDuel SN FL, FanDuel SN SE, NBA League Pass
Attendance
19,423
Referees
Ed Malloy, Jacyn Goble, John Conley

Game Analysis

Statistics visualization

Game Stats

Get the latest game stats
Hornets
Magic
43-79FG33-79
54Field Goal %42
17-363PT14-37
47Three Point %38
21-25FT17-22
10Offensive Rebounds6
37Defensive Rebounds25
26Assists25
7Steals7
4Blocks4
14Turnovers12
0Technical Fouls0
16Points Conceded Off Turnovers14
16Fast Break Points13
18Fouls23
33Largest Lead3

Current Standings

2025-26 Southeast Standings

TEAMWLPCTSTRK
Atlanta4433.571W3
Charlotte4136.532W2
Orlando4036.526L1
Miami4037.519L1
Washington1759.224L4

Play by Play

Play By Play

Recent plays and game events
TIMEPLAY
12:00
Moussa Diabate vs. Wendell Carter Jr. (Desmond Bane gains possession)
00
11:38
Desmond Bane makes 25-foot three point jumper (Anthony Black assists)
30
11:15
Kon Knueppel misses 26-foot three point jumper
30
11:12
Miles Bridges offensive rebound
30
11:00
Brandon Miller makes 29-foot three point shot (LaMelo Ball assists)
33
10:43
Wendell Carter Jr. misses 22-foot three point jumper
33
10:40
Brandon Miller defensive rebound
33
10:37
Anthony Black personal foul
33
10:23
LaMelo Ball makes 26-foot three point step back jumpshot
36
9:57
Paolo Banchero misses 13-foot two point shot
36
9:57
Hornets defensive team rebound
36
9:57
Wendell Carter Jr. loose ball foul
36
9:42
LaMelo Ball makes 6-foot two point shot (Moussa Diabate assists)
38
9:21
Tristan da Silva bad pass turnover (Brandon Miller steals)
38
9:19
Moussa Diabate out of bounds bad pass turnover
38
9:07
Anthony Black misses two point shot
38
9:04
Kon Knueppel defensive rebound
38
8:51
Miles Bridges bad pass turnover (Tristan da Silva steals)
38
8:43
Desmond Bane misses 18-foot pullup jump shot
38
8:39
Moussa Diabate defensive rebound
38
8:24
Brandon Miller misses 22-foot three point jumper
38
8:18
Desmond Bane defensive rebound
38
8:00
Hornets Full timeout
38
8:00
(08:00) [Hornets] COACH'S CHALLENGE (CALL OVERTURNED) [Hornets] retain their timeout
38
8:00
Goga Bitadze enters the game for Wendell Carter Jr.
38
8:00
Moussa Diabate blocks Desmond Bane 's 4-foot driving layup
38
8:00
Hornets defensive team rebound
38
7:42
LaMelo Ball makes 24-foot three point step back jumpshot
311
7:25
Miles Bridges shooting foul
311
7:25
Paolo Banchero misses free throw 1 of 2
311
7:25
Magic offensive team rebound
311
7:25
Paolo Banchero makes free throw 2 of 2
411
7:09
Brandon Miller misses 17-foot pullup jump shot
411
7:05
Tristan da Silva defensive rebound
411
6:47
Tristan da Silva misses 25-foot three point jumper
411
6:46
Magic offensive team rebound
411
6:46
Moussa Diabate loose ball foul
411
6:46
Jase Richardson enters the game for Desmond Bane
411
6:46
Ryan Kalkbrenner enters the game for Kon Knueppel
411
6:46
Josh Green enters the game for Moussa Diabate
411
6:38
Ryan Kalkbrenner shooting foul
411
6:38
Paolo Banchero makes free throw 1 of 2
511
6:38
Paolo Banchero makes free throw 2 of 2
611
6:15
Goga Bitadze blocks Miles Bridges 's 6-foot two point shot
611
6:12
Paolo Banchero defensive rebound
611
6:10
Paolo Banchero lost ball turnover (Josh Green steals)
611
6:08
Brandon Miller out of bounds bad pass turnover
611
5:52
Jase Richardson misses 10-foot pullup jump shot
611
5:50
Ryan Kalkbrenner defensive rebound
611
5:39
Brandon Miller misses 24-foot three point jumper
611
5:36
Paolo Banchero defensive rebound
611
5:29
Anthony Black misses 25-foot three point jumper
611
5:26
Miles Bridges defensive rebound
611
5:11
Josh Green makes 26-foot three point jumper (Brandon Miller assists)
614
4:46
Jase Richardson misses 27-foot three point pullup jump shot
614
4:42
Miles Bridges defensive rebound
614
4:36
Goga Bitadze shooting foul
614
4:36
Miles Bridges misses free throw 1 of 2
614
4:36
Hornets offensive team rebound
614
4:36
Sion James enters the game for LaMelo Ball
614
4:36
Kon Knueppel enters the game for Brandon Miller
614
4:36
Miles Bridges makes free throw 2 of 2
615
4:22
Anthony Black makes 23-foot three point jumper (Paolo Banchero assists)
915
4:17
Tristan da Silva personal foul
915
4:04
Sion James makes 23-foot three point jumper (Kon Knueppel assists)
918
3:50
Josh Green blocks Anthony Black 's 6-foot pullup jump shot
918
3:46
Jase Richardson offensive rebound
918
3:43
Paolo Banchero steps out of bounds turnover
918
3:43
Moritz Wagner enters the game for Anthony Black
918
3:43
Tyus Jones enters the game for Paolo Banchero
918
3:43
Wendell Carter Jr. enters the game for Goga Bitadze
918
3:22
Josh Green misses 12-foot pullup jump shot
918
3:20
Tristan da Silva defensive rebound
918
3:16
Tristan da Silva out of bounds lost ball turnover
918
3:00
Kon Knueppel misses 22-foot three point jumper
918
2:58
Kon Knueppel offensive rebound
918
2:57
Kon Knueppel makes 22-foot three point jumper
921
2:56
Magic Full timeout
918
2:56
Desmond Bane enters the game for Jase Richardson
918
2:56
Noah Penda enters the game for Tristan da Silva
918
2:56
Collin Sexton enters the game for Miles Bridges
918
2:56
Tidjane Salaun enters the game for Josh Green
918
2:43
Sion James shooting foul
918
2:43
Desmond Bane makes free throw 1 of 2
1018
2:43
Desmond Bane makes free throw 2 of 2
1118
2:28
Collin Sexton lost ball turnover (Noah Penda steals)
1118
2:24
Noah Penda makes running dunk
1318
2:20
Kon Knueppel misses 26-foot three point jumper
1318
2:20
Wendell Carter Jr. defensive rebound
1318
2:10
Tyus Jones makes 26-foot three pointer (Wendell Carter Jr. assists)
1618
1:56
Collin Sexton makes driving layup
1620
1:47
Ryan Kalkbrenner shooting foul
1620
1:47
Moritz Wagner makes free throw 1 of 2
1720
1:47
Moussa Diabate enters the game for Ryan Kalkbrenner
1720
1:47
Moritz Wagner makes free throw 2 of 2
1820
1:30
Tidjane Salaun makes 26-foot three point step back jumpshot (Collin Sexton assists)
1823
1:12
Wendell Carter Jr. makes layup
2023
1:03
Collin Sexton makes 26-foot three point jumper (Kon Knueppel assists)
2026
51.5
Wendell Carter Jr. misses 25-foot three point jumper
2026
49.9
Tidjane Salaun defensive rebound
2026
42.6
Collin Sexton makes 25-foot three pointer (Sion James assists)
2029
35.1
Tyus Jones misses 28-foot three point pullup jump shot
2029
32.5
Tidjane Salaun defensive rebound
2029
16.6
Noah Penda personal foul
2029
16.6
Kon Knueppel makes free throw 1 of 2
2030
16.6
Josh Green enters the game for Collin Sexton
2030
16.6
Kon Knueppel makes free throw 2 of 2
2031
16.6
Wendell Carter Jr. loose ball foul
2031
16.6
Moussa Diabate makes free throw 1 of 1
2032
0.0
Noah Penda misses driving layup
2032
0.0
Magic offensive team rebound
2032
0.0
End of the 1st Quarter
2032

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