Orlando Magic pounds Charlotte Hornets as losing streak grows to 7 games
.JPG "Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges, right, releases a running one-handed shot over Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon, left, during first quarter action at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, NC on Monday, January 20, 2020.")
The Charlotte Hornets are taking some unwanted baggage to Paris this week.
The Hornets lost 106-83 to the Orlando Magic on Monday at Spectrum Center, running a season-long losing streak to seven games as they head to France to face the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday.
The Hornets led by as many as 11 points in the first quarter, but Orlando rallied in the second quarter to hand Charlotte another loss. The Hornets, who haven’t won since Jan. 4 at Dallas, fall to 15-30.
The Magic opened the second quarter by outscoring the Hornets 14-1. The group that started the game and took a 27-19 lead into the second quarter -- forwards Miles Bridges and P.J. Washington, center Cody Zeller and guards Devonte’ Graham and Terry Rozier -- started the second period, as well.
“Good start; poor second quarter,” Hornets coach James Borrego said. “The group that started the second quarter didn’t have enough urgency. There were some mistakes in coverage. We weren’t locked in. They got to the rim easily. They weren’t running anything tricky and didn’t do anything that surprised us. It was strictly poor execution, poor awareness and a lack of professionalism coming out in the second quarter.”
Guard Evan Fournier scored 26 points for the Magic, making 6-of-8 3-pointers. Orlando, which out-rebounded the Hornets 47-39, also got 24 points from center Nikola Vucevic.
The Hornets, who rallied in the third quarter to cut Orlando’s lead to seven points, got 20 off the bench from Malik Monk and 19 from P.J. Washington.
Monday’s game was the final game of a six-game road trip for the Magic (21-23). Orlando had lost by 14 points Saturday to the Golden State Warriors, who had the worst record in the league entering Monday. Orlando traveled Sunday to get to Charlotte, while the Hornets were continuing to rest after finishing their own Western swing last Wednesday.
“We got a little relaxed,” Monk said of the second-quarter performance. “Sloppy with the ball. It cost us.”
Nice buzz
Much of the Hornets’ fast start could be attributed to Graham, who made three of his first four 3-pointers as Charlotte jumped to an 11-point lead late in the first quarter. Graham finished with 12 points in the quarter, but he didn’t score again until the fourth quarter, finishing with 15.
Bee stings
The Hornets played well in the first quarter — then the second quarter happened. After taking a 27-19 lead after the first 12 minutes, Charlotte allowed Orlando to open the second quarter on a 14-1 run. Most of the damage was done by Magic guard Terrence Ross, who made three 3-pointers in the frame after going 2-of-3 from long range in the first quarter. The Magic’s 32-18 quarter gave it a 51-45 lead at halftime.
Building blocks
Monk, who has run hot and cold for much of his three-year career, played 22 minutes. He made eight of his 13 shots, but missed all three of his 3-pointers. Monk also missed two shots and a pair of free throws and had a turnover early in the second quarter that helped the Magic take control.
Beyond the numbers
0: Field goals by Hornets guard Terry Rozier, who missed all six of his shots end finished with four points.
3: Points by Graham after the first quarter after scoring 12 in the first quarter.
38.2: Hornets’ field-goal percentage.
44.4: Free-throw percentage by Orlando (four of nine).
10: Game-high rebounds by Vucevic.
This story was originally published January 20, 2020 at 7:29 PM.