NBA Matchups: November 25

ORL @ CHA | TOR @ DET | NOP @ IND | DAL @ ATL | LAC @ BOS | POR @ MEM | NYK @ DEN | BKN @ GSW | OKC @ SAC

Orlando Magic at Charlotte Hornets

Team Totals: Magic 109.3, Hornets 103.8

Injury Report: Wendell Carter Jr. (Q, foot), Tre Mann (O, back), Grant Williams (O, knee), Miles Bridges

Magic projected starters: Jalen Suggs, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Franz Wagner, Tristan da Silva, Goga Bitadze

Hornets projected starters: LaMelo Ball, Josh Green, Brandon Miller, Tidjane Salaun, Moussa Diabate

Mosley quotes: Said Suggs had a sore left hammy and that’s all for the update, said all the guys stepping up have to be able to guard, said Moe Wagner “wakes up with 10 points” and the brother connection helps with Franz, said da Silva plays the right way and just fills in where the team needs it.

Lee quotes: Said Grant was diagnosed with a knee injury and is getting imaging, said Miller will carve out his own niche on offense, said they are working through it on how to get LaMelo out of foul trouble.

Stats and Notes: 

*The Magic are just on another level defensively, as they sit fourth in defensive rating. Orlando is allowing the fewest points at the rim in the league, and they’re the second-best team at limiting offensive rebounding. They’re also eighth in limiting transition and they allow the third-lowest C&S points. This team is just too good defensively. For the Hornets on defense, they’re getting really thin in the frontcourt with Grant Williams tearing his ACL. The Hornets are slightly better on defense with Grant on the court, and overall their defense isn’t all that great at 22nd (27th in the halfcourt). The Hornets have been much better on the boards this year and they’re in the middle of the pack on most defensive stats. They’ve also been very good in transition for defense, so there isn’t a clear weakness from a team-level standpoint.

*Franz Wagner gets an incredible matchup here against likely Josh Green. We did see Franz struggle against an undersized defender last week in Kris Dunn, but Dunn is playing some of the best defense in the league right now. Franz has been able to get downhill with 14.3 drives and 11.3 points on those, and he’s consistently producing in PNR. He should smash again.

*Jalen Suggs had some hamstring soreness over the weekend, and it’s surprising that he didn’t even get listed. Even though this matchup is favorable, I would be a little worried if they manage him here.

*The Magic keep calling Wendell Carter Jr. (foot) questionable, and he keeps missing games. If he’s out again, that bodes well for Goga Bitadze, as we’ve routinely seen centers take it to the Hornets.

*LaMelo Ball went for a 50 piece on Saturday and he did it with 23 points from on-ball chances (13 iso, 10 PNR). In his last three games, Ball is smashing on drives at 13.7 points on 15.7 drives (65.2 FG%), and he’s even getting to the rim more these days. Of course, this matchup is extremely tough, but we’ve seen LaMelo have to carry his team against high-end defenses.

*Brandon Miller also has a good grove going. He’s been more off the ball recently as he’s upped his spot-up chances and he’s running out in transition. Those are two areas the Magic thrive, making this a pretty tough spot. Maybe they get him on the ball more, but either way this isn’t ideal.

*Besides LaMelo and Miller, it’s an easy pass all around. The Magic take away so much easy stuff, which is going to make it tougher to go to Diabate or Salaun. I’m excited to see how big of a role Salaun gets now that the Hornets are so thin up front.

Great matchups: Franz Wagner

Good matchups: Goga Bitadze, Jalen Suggs (health concerns), LaMelo Ball

Bad matchups: The Hornets

Toronto Raptors (back end) at Detroit Pistons