When the Orlando Magic rolled into Charlotte and handed the Hornets a 16-point loss back on October 30, it wasn’t just a win-it was a turning point. At the time, Jamahl Mosley’s squad was reeling, sitting at 1-4 after a rough start to a season that came with real expectations.
But that 123-107 victory at Spectrum Center sparked something. From that moment, the Magic went on a tear, winning 11 of their next 15 and climbing the Eastern Conference standings as November turned into December.
Now, as December winds down, the Magic find themselves back in familiar territory-facing Charlotte again. But this time, it’s at home inside the Kia Center, and the stakes feel different.
Orlando’s been hit hard by injuries and inconsistency, going 4-5 over their last nine games. They’re looking for another jolt, another spark to steady the ship more than a third of the way through the season.
And it’s not just one or two players on the mend-it’s a laundry list of key contributors. Franz Wagner, who’s been playing at an All-Star level, has missed the last six games with a left high ankle sprain.
Jalen Suggs, the defensive tone-setter in the backcourt, has sat out the last four with a bruised left hip. Rookie forward Tristan da Silva is also sidelined with a shoulder bruise, and big man Goga Bitadze missed the most recent game due to a left knee strain.
Add in veteran Jonathan Isaac, who’s been dealing with a hip issue of his own, and it’s clear the Magic haven’t been anywhere near full strength.
They’re also still awaiting the return of backup center Moe Wagner, who just passed the one-year mark since tearing the ACL in his left knee. His absence continues to loom large, especially with the frontcourt rotation stretched thin.
But there’s good news: the Magic are finally back home. After more than two weeks on the road-their last home game was back on December 9-they’ll return to the Kia Center for a Friday matchup against the Hornets. It’s a welcome sight for a team that’s been grinding through a tough stretch, both physically and mentally.
That said, the schedule isn’t easing up. After hosting Charlotte, Orlando will turn around and face the defending champion Denver Nuggets the very next night.
And they know exactly what kind of challenge that presents. Just last week, the Magic held a 14-point lead at Ball Arena before the Nuggets flipped the script and walked away with an 11-point win.
That game wasn’t an outlier, either.
Orlando had a frustrating habit of letting big leads slip away during its recent four-game Western road swing. They led by 14 in Denver, 19 in Utah, and 17 in Portland.
The Jazz pushed them into overtime before the Magic pulled out a one-point win. The Blazers took a lead early in the fourth quarter before Orlando regrouped for a four-point victory.
In all three games, the Magic showed they can build leads-but closing them out has been a different story.
That’s why this upcoming homestand-brief as it is-matters. The Magic need to rediscover their rhythm, and that starts with putting together complete performances.
Not just fast starts, but strong finishes. Especially with a three-game road trip looming after the weekend, featuring stops in Toronto, Indiana, and Chicago.
For now, though, it’s all about Friday night. A chance to reset, get back in front of the home crowd, and maybe, just maybe, find the same kind of spark they lit back in late October.
Up next:
**Magic vs.
Hornets**
Back at home and looking for a boost, Orlando will try to recreate the momentum they found the last time these two teams met.