The Hornets begin a pivotal five-game home stretch against a division foe.

HORNETS: CARE – Tre Mann (lower back), Miles Bridges (right knee), Daquan Jeffries (right arm), Nick Richards (right rib), Grant Williams (right ACL), Mark Williams (left leg)

Magic: UNDER DOUBT – Wendell Carter Jr. (left leg) OUTSIDE – Paolo Banchero (R Oblique)

The Hornets have been tough against their opponents as of late, but with Orlando coming to town, this could be a tough game to compete against with an already limited roster.

The Magic were one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference, despite the absence of Paolo Banchero. Orlando has won its last eight of nine games and is in third place in the Eastern Conference.

A major factor in Orlando’s recent success has been the play of Franz Wagner. Wagner is playing at a ridiculous level this season, averaging 28.3 points per game, 6.5 rebounds and 6.9 assists over the last 10 games.

For the Hornets, despite some of their key players missing time, LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller are currently playing the best basketball of their careers. The duo is averaging 77.5 points per game over the last two games, which is one of the craziest numbers you’ll see from the Hornets this season, or so we think.

After a slow start, Brandon Miller really hit his stride. He has scored more than 29 points in each of his last three games, including a career-high 38 points against Detroit. Ball has played at the NBA level all season, but just scored a career-high 50 points in his final game, raising his points per game average to over 30 for the season.

Despite great play from both players, it wasn’t enough for the Hornets to get into the win column as much as they would have liked. Without Tre Mann, Miles Bridges, Mark Williams, Nick Richards, and now Grant Williams this season, the Hornets have a much harder time competing on a nightly basis.

While the Hornets aren’t getting much healthier, the Magic are improving as they could potentially get their starting center back in Wendell Carter Jr., who is averaging about eight points and nine rebounds on the season. Unfortunately, he missed time with a foot injury that has kept him out since November 3rd. Carter Jr. is questionable for the Hornets fight.

One potential encouraging sign for the Hornets is the difference between both teams when they play at home and on the road. The Hornets are 5-3 at home and 1-7 on the road at Spectrum Center. The Magic are an impressive 8-0 at home, but a weak 3-7 on the road. Whatever the difference, the Hornets should take advantage.

Key match: Franz Wagner vs Hornets

The last time these two teams faced each other, it just wasn’t close, as Franz Wagner torched the Hornets in a 25-point loss to Charlotte. In this match, Wagner had 32 points, eight rebounds and five assists. The Magic’s lone loss in their last nine games: Wagner had a disastrous 14-point performance against the Clippers.

Can the Hornets keep him to the U-14 level? Probably not, but if they can contain him, they’ll certainly have a chance. Now the question is, who will compete with Wagner? The Hornets could put Miller, or Josh Green guarding him, or perhaps Cody Martin, but it would take a total team effort to get Wagner out of his typical rhythm and play.

Besides Wagner, the Magic have a couple of players who can shoot the ball, but if I were the Hornets, I’d risk taking the ball out of the 23-year-old’s hands.

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