NBA Matchups: April 5

This slate is going to be a news fest. The matchups really don’t even matter at this point of the year with so many teams missing guys, so I’m sure you guys understand that I can’t go nuts on the analysis. I’ll try to sum up some noteworthy roles and hit on who the primary matchups are. This one should be pretty short.

We’ll have Justin Phan on for the Injury Show, so that’s going to be a wild one. I’ll have plenty more there. Can’t wait for that one!

ORL @ CHA | OKC @ IND | POR @ WAS | SAC @ BOS | NYK @ CHI | MIA @ HOU | DET @ MEM | TOR @ MIL | SAS @ NOP | GSW @ DAL | MIN @ PHX | UTA @ LAC

Orlando Magic at Charlotte Hornets

Team Totals: Magic 108.8, Hornets 97.3

Injury Report: Caleb Houstan (Q, ankle), Nick Richards (Q, foot), Grant Williams (P, ankle), Miles Bridges (P, wrist), Brandon Miller (P, wrist)

Magic projected starters: Jalen Suggs, Gary Harris, Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, Wendell Carter Jr.

Hornets projected starters: Tre Mann, Vasa Micic, Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges, Grant Williams (Note: Kind of think Nick Richards sits)

Mosley quotes: Said Paolo, Franz, and Suggs all made big-time plays, said he’s really proud of his team for staying the course against the Pels.

Clifford quotes: Said the Hornets have been losing too much and it’s worn him down, said he can’t really give the effort he needs.

Motivation: The Magic are highly motivated to win while the Hornets are highly motivated to lose (tied with Spurs for 3-4).

Stats and Notes: 

*The Orlando defense continues to be one of the best in the league, ranking first in D rating at 105.7 (90.3 halfcourt). The Magic continue to limit 3-point volume with the fifth-lowest frequency since the break, and they have been fantastic with interior FG% allowed. The Hornets might not be tanking this one. However, those probable tags still freak me out this time of year. If they do tank it somewhere, can they get to 80?

*You would think Franz Wagner has gone off in every game in this matchup, but you would only be right one of the three times. He was very quiet in two games, but he had a 30-point explosion in the first matchup. You can make a case that the last two duds were because of Brandon Miller growing in his rookie season, and taking on the Franz matchup. The ceiling cases haven’t been there, but I still like Franz to put up a strong effort.

*Miles Bridges and Paolo Banchero are going to be guarding each other, and Paolo has been just OK in this matchup with a 13/1/5 and 22/5/3 lines in the last two. The good news is he’s getting massive minutes right now, but the bad news is that the touches and drives aren’t popping like they were a month ago. He’s fine, but there’s not enough to like about this game environment.

*Wendell Carter Jr. smash? Maybe not. He’s actually been terrible in this matchup, but I’d still be OK leaning into the larger sample of centers killing the Hornets. I would like the matchup more if Nick Richards started.

*I’m basically out on the Hornets. If you made me pick one, it was weird that Brandon Miller’s minutes were light against the Blazers, and I’m just too worried about funny business. It’s not worth it against the league’s hottest defense.

Great matchups: Wendell Carter Jr.

Good matchups: Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner

Bad matchups: The Hornets

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Oklahoma City Thunder at Indiana Pacers