In a commanding display, the Orlando Magic secured their place in at least the play-in round of the NBA postseason by trouncing the Charlotte Hornets 112-92 on Tuesday night.
Cole Anthony led the charge for the Magic, scoring 19 of his 21 points in the first half, setting the tone for his team’s dominant performance. Alongside Anthony, Jalen Suggs contributed 16 points, while Moritz Wagner and Paolo Banchero each added 13 points. Franz Wagner rounded off the scoring with 11 points.
The Magic showcased their offensive prowess by shooting an impressive 54.3 percent from the field, maintaining control of the game despite surrendering 33 points to the Hornets in the third quarter.
On the other side, the Hornets struggled to find their rhythm, with Brandon Miller and Vasilije Micic leading the scoring with 21 and 20 points, respectively. Miles Bridges contributed 16 points, but turnovers proved costly for Charlotte, who committed 17 throughout the game.
With this victory, the Magic have now won nine of their past 11 games, demonstrating their form as they head towards the postseason. Meanwhile, the Hornets, now 2-8 this month, face an uphill battle as they seek to regain momentum.
Rockets Cruise Past Wizards Behind Green’s 42 Points
In another NBA showdown, the Houston Rockets secured a convincing 137-114 victory over the Washington Wizards, propelled by a stellar performance from Jalen Green, who tied his career-high with 42 points.
Supported by rookie Amen Thompson, who added a career-high 25 points, the Rockets extended their winning streak to six games. Corey Kispert, Justin Champagnie, and Jules Bernard led the scoring for the Wizards with 16 points each, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Houston’s dominance.
Nuggets Edge Timberwolves in Close Contest
The Denver Nuggets narrowly defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 115-112, with Nikola Jokic leading the charge with 35 points and 16 rebounds. Michael Porter Jr., Jamal Murray, and Aaron Gordon also made significant contributions, registering double-doubles to secure the win for the Nuggets.
Despite a strong performance from Anthony Edwards, who finished with 30 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists, the Timberwolves fell short in their bid for victory.
Pelicans Secure Win Over Nets, Extend Winning Streak
The New Orleans Pelicans continued their playoff push with a 104-91 victory over the Brooklyn Nets. Zion Williamson led the Pelicans with 28 points, supported by CJ McCollum, who scored 16 points to help secure the win.
Despite a strong performance from Cam Thomas, who led the Nets with 25 points, Brooklyn struggled to contain the Pelicans’ offense, resulting in their sixth loss in seven games.
Mavericks Overcome Spurs Behind Irving’s 28 Points
In the final game of the night, the Dallas Mavericks defeated the San Antonio Spurs 113-107, with Kyrie Irving leading the scoring with 28 points. Despite a challenging shooting night for Luka Doncic, who recorded a triple-double, the Mavericks secured the win behind a balanced scoring effort.
Tre Jones led the Spurs with 22 points, supported by Devin Vassell and rookie Victor Wembanyama, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Mavericks’ determined performance.