Balanced scoring leads Hornets to convincing win over Magic

Brandon Miller scored 20 points to lead eight players in double figures as the visiting Charlotte Hornets beat the Orlando Magic 124-97 on Thursday.

Collin Sexton had 19 points, LaMelo Ball added 16 and Kon Knueppel had 13 points and 10 rebounds for Charlotte, which led by as many as 33 and shot 53.8% from the field and 47.2% (17 of 36) from 3-point range.

Orlando shot 41.8% from the field and 37.8% (14 of 37) from beyond the arc in its first game since concluding a two-game European trip against the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday in London.

Paolo Banchero scored 23 points and Desmond Bane added 21 to lead the Magic, who took a 3-0 lead on a Bane 3-pointer and never led again. Moritz Wagner had 14 points, Noah Penda scored 13 and Jett Howard had 10.

Charlotte made six 3-pointers during a 21-9 start to the game and led 35-20 at the end of the opening quarter.

Orlando has been outscored 114-66 in the first quarters of its last three games combined.

The Hornets carried the momentum into the second quarter and extended their lead to 49-28 on Sexton's jumper with 6:46 left in the half.

Sexton had 12 points in the half to lead Charlotte, which held a 62-41 advantage at intermission.

Charlotte shot 47.8% (11 of 23) from 3-point range in the first half compared to 26.3% (5 of 19) for the Magic.

The Hornets led by 33 before Banchero's trey cut the deficit to 97-67 at the end of the third quarter.

Ball scored with 6:59 left in the contest to put Charlotte ahead 109-82, and both teams rested their starters in the final minutes.

Tidjane Salaun had 13 points and Miles Bridges, Ryan Kalkbrenner and Moussa Diabate each chipped in 10 points for the Hornets, who have won two of their first three games against the Magic this season.

Orlando played without guard Jalen Suggs, who missed his eighth straight game due to a right knee contusion.

--Field Level Media