NBA: Balanced scoring carries Magic over Hornets

Paolo Banchero led six Orlando scorers in double figures with 22 points as the visiting Magic defeated the Charlotte Hornets 101-89 on Tuesday night.

Cole Anthony had 14 points and Wendell Carter Jr. supplied 12 points and nine rebounds as the Magic rang up their fourth straight win and their seventh in the last eight games. Moritz Wagner and Jonathan Isaac each had 11 points and Anthony Black chipped in with 10.

Vasilije Micic, who has been called upon for duties at point guard, racked up a season-high 21 points in another starting role for the injury-ravaged Hornets, who are on a five-game losing streak. Tre Mann and Brandon Miller added 18 points apiece and Davis Bertans had 14 points for Charlotte.

But the Hornets didn’t receive much of a boost from center Nick Richards’ return after missing Sunday’s game at Toronto. He finished with two points and four rebounds in 27 minutes. Miles Bridges, who was Charlotte’s leading scorer in four games of a recent six-game stretch, went 3-for-16 from the field.

The Magic took advantage of Charlotte’s 19 turnovers. Even though Orlando committed 17 giveaways, it made up for it by shooting 54.1 percent from the field. The Magic’s 8-for-15 free-throw shooting might have been troubling on other nights.

The Hornets missed 39 shots from the floor and gathered only three offensive rebounds. Miller and Bertans both had four 3-pointers among the team’s 12 baskets from long range.

Orlando stretched a 45-43 halftime lead to double figures after the Hornets had pulled even.

It was 58-58 with about 4 1/2 minutes left in the third quarter. A couple of baskets from Franz Wagner helped spark a rally, then Anthony scored on a drive and on a 3-pointer as the Magic went up 76-65 after three quarters.

The Magic are 2-0 against Charlotte this season. This matchup marked the first of three meetings in a one-month span. — Field Level Media/Reuters