Spectrum Center | Carolina Hornets
Spectrum Center | Carolina Hornets
The Orlando Magic's defensive strategy proved effective once again against the Charlotte Hornets, leading to a decisive 114-89 victory in their first Emirates NBA Cup game of the season. The match took place on Tuesday night in Orlando, continuing a trend from last season where Orlando's defense caused significant issues for Charlotte.
LaMelo Ball was a standout performer for the Hornets, scoring 35 points with six rebounds and seven assists. His performance marked him as the third player in team history to have consecutive games with at least 35 points and five assists, joining Kemba Walker and Gerald Wallace.
For Orlando, Franz Wagner led with a season-high 32 points along with eight rebounds, five assists, and three steals. His brother Moritz contributed 18 points off the bench, while Jalen Suggs added 17 points after making his first seven field-goal attempts.
A crucial moment came early in the second quarter when Orlando went on a 19-3 run, leaving Charlotte trailing by halftime. Turnovers were costly for the Hornets; they committed ten turnovers in that quarter alone which resulted in 12 points for Orlando.
Charlotte struggled without key players Miles Bridges and Tre Mann. Brandon Miller had an off night with only eight points on poor shooting. The team's turnover problems persisted from their previous game against Philadelphia, resetting their season-high to 22 turnovers.
Moussa Diabaté provided some positives for Charlotte with his strong rebounding efforts. He recorded his first NBA double-double with 12 points and tied his career high of 15 rebounds.
Hornets Head Coach Charles Lee commented on the turnover issues: “There were a couple of those turnovers [in the second quarter], where we have to understand not to overdribble or put ourselves in tough positions... It’s actually encouraging for me because I know as we continue to go through this season, we’re going to keep getting better and better.”
Looking ahead, the Hornets will face the Milwaukee Bucks at home after three days off. The Bucks have struggled recently with a record of 2-8 since their opening win against Philadelphia.
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