The Charlotte Hornets will wrap up a four-game homestand when they face the Orlando Magic on Friday night. Charlotte had its season-high five-game winning streak snapped in a loss to Phoenix on Wednesday. Orlando has alternated between wins and losses in each of its last 10 games, and the Magic are coming off a 139-117 setback at Milwaukee.
Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. ET. Orlando is favored by 3.5 points in the latest Hornets vs. Magic odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over/under is set at 225. Before entering any Magic vs. Hornets picks, you'll want to see the NBA predictions from the model at SportsLine.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past four-plus seasons. The model enters Week 20 of the 2022-23 NBA season on a stunning 57-30 roll on all top-rated NBA picks this season, returning nearly $2,300. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Hornets vs. Magic. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several NBA betting lines for Hornets vs. Magic:
- Hornets vs. Magic spread: Hornets +3.5
- Hornets vs. Magic over/under: 225 points
- Hornets vs. Magic money line: Charlotte +135, Orlando -160
- Hornets vs. Magic picks: See picks here
Why the Magic can cover
Orlando has been impressive on the road over the past month, winning four of its last six games away from home. The Magic notched a 101-93 win at New Orleans on Monday, springing the upset as 4.5-point underdogs. They have bounced back from each of their last six losses with wins, so they have proven that they are a quality betting option on Friday night.
Rookie forward Paolo Banchero leads the Magic with 19.7 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game, scoring 29 points and grabbing eight boards at New Orleans on Monday. Guard Franz Wagner is averaging 18.8 points and 3.4 assists, while center Wendell Carter Jr. is adding 15.1 points and 8.8 rebounds. The Magic have covered the spread in 14 of their last 20 road games, and they have covered in four of the last six meetings between these teams.
Why the Hornets can cover
Charlotte has been in its best form of the season since the middle of February, rattling off five consecutive wins to close the month. The Hornets opened their current homestand with wins over the Heat and Pistons, covering the spread in both of those outings. They are facing an Orlando defense that has allowed more than 120 points in each of its last three losses, including Wednesday's 139-117 setback at Milwaukee.
Rookie center Mark Williams has posted three straight double-doubles, becoming the team's first rookie to do so since 2005 (Emeka Okafor). The Hornets are going to be without LaMelo Ball for the remainder of the season due to an ankle injury, but they have been accustomed to playing without him this year. Veteran shooting guard Terry Rozier is averaging 21.4 points, 4.8 assists and 4.2 rebounds per game for the Hornets, who have covered the spread in five of their last six games.
How to make Magic vs. Hornets picks
The model has simulated Hornets vs. Magic 10,000 times and the results are in. We can tell you that the model is leaning Under, and it's also generated a point-spread pick that is hitting in almost 70% of simulations. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Magic vs. Hornets? And which side of the spread is hitting almost 70% of the time? Visit SportsLine to see which side of the Hornets vs. Magic spread to jump on, all from the advanced model that has crushed its NBA picks, and find out.
