Charlotte Hornets

Hornets Gameday: vs. Orlando Magic

Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic (9) averages 18.2 points and 8.9 rebounds this season.
Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic (9) averages 18.2 points and 8.9 rebounds this season. AP

8 p.m., Time Warner Cable Arena

TV: Fox Sports Southeast Radio: WFNZ-AM 610.

Projected Starters

Hornets

Magic

Pos, Player

PPG

RPG

Pos, Player

PPG

RPG

G K. Walker

21.1

4.5

G E. Payton

10.8

3.6

G C. Lee

9.0

3.2

G M. Hezonja

5.8

1.3

F TBD

F E. Fournier

15.2

2.8

F M. Williams

11.7

6.5

F E. Ilyasova

10.5

5.5

C TBD

C N. Vucevic

18.2

8.9

Matchup to Watch

Nikola Vucevic vs. Al Jefferson: Jefferson is coming off a double-double against the Boston Celtics in his first start since November. Vucevic has the size and bulk to hinder Jefferson getting to his preferred spots in the low post.

Observations

▪ This is the regular-season finale before the Hornets start playoffs over the weekend. Hornets coach Steve Clifford said Monday he doesn’t intend to sit any players who aren’t injured. But the starters will likely play reduced minutes.

▪ The Hornets played the Celtics without center Cody Zeller (bruised sternum) and lost small forward Nic Batum to an ankle sprain. It’s unclear whether either of those players will be available Wednesday.

Tap-ins

▪  This game will be televised on Fox Sports Southeast after ESPN dropped the game to televise Miami Heat-Celtics instead.

▪  The Magic closed out its home schedule Monday with a victory over the Milwaukee Bucks.

Did you know?

The Magic is top-10 in the NBA in only one statistical category: Seventh in assists-per-game at 23.54.

Rick Bonnell

This story was originally published April 12, 2016 at 6:20 PM with the headline "Hornets Gameday: vs. Orlando Magic."

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