The Orlando Magic will face the Charlotte Hornets in the NBA on Thursday night. The Magic are off to a rough start at 1-4 on the year and they will try to get a much-needed win against a Hornets team that is 2-2 to begin their campaign. Before tip-off from Charlotte, continue reading to get my thoughts on this contest, including my Magic vs Hornets prediction from North Carolina.
Our Magic vs Hornets Pick
- Pick: Charlotte Hornets Moneyline
- Confidence: ★★★☆☆
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Orlando Magic @ Charlotte Hornets
- Date & Time: Thursday, October 30, 2025, 7:00 PM ET
- Venue: Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC
- Broadcast: NBA League Pass
Key Storylines
- The Magic are playing on back-to-back nights. That will raise questions about fatigue and rotation depth. They were beaten by the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night and will try to get back on track on a quick turnaround here.
- Orlando will be without Moritz Wagner (knee) for this game. Meanwhile, Charlotte lists Grant Williams (ACL) out. Brandon Miller (shoulder) and Josh Green (shoulder) are also listed as out on their injury report.
- Charlotte gets the benefit of rest and are playing at home in this game. The Hornets won their only home game of the season so far, defeating the Brooklyn Nets at Spectrum Center in their season opener.
- Defense has been an issue for both of these teams so far this season. The Magic have given up 135 or more points in each of their last two games, losing both of those contests. Charlotte gave up 144 points in their last game, losing to the Miami Heat on Tuesday. Whichever team can step up on defense will give themselves a great chance to get back into the win column here.
Head-to-Head & Betting Trends
- Charlotte is 3-1 against the spread to start the season.
- Orlando is 0-5 against the spread to begin the year.
- The total has gone over in all four of Charlotte’s games to start this campaign.
- Orlando is 3-2 to the over through their first five games of this season.
- Orlando won all four games these teams played against each other last season.
Best Player Props to Watch
| Player | Prop to Watch |
|---|---|
| LaMelo Ball (Hornets) | Over 3.5 Threes |
| Paolo Banchero (Magic) | Over 26.5 Points |
| Desmond Bane (Magic) | Under 19.5 Points |
Magic vs Hornets Model Projection
Score Projection: Orlando 106 – Charlotte 110
Win Probability: Orlando 41%, Charlotte 59%
Final Thoughts
I don’t think that the Magic are as bad as they have looked early in the season. But I also think that this is a terrible scheduling spot for them. While the Hornets are not a great basketball team, they are playing at home and with a rest advantage in this contest. I’ll take Charlotte to win outright as a slight underdog on their home floor here, as they should continue the miserable start for the Magic early in the year.
