Hornets vs. Magic prediction: Orlando favored to win Thursday's NBA game [1/22/2026]

NBA action continues on Thursday at 7:00 PM ET as the Charlotte Hornets square off with the Orlando Magic at Kia Center.

Based on updated simulation results and today’s injury news, Dimers' proven NBA model projects the Magic as the most likely winner of the Hornets vs. Magic game.

This prediction follows the latest NBA Injury Report, which suggests the Magic lineup will feature players like Paolo Banchero, Anthony Black and Desmond Bane, while the Hornets will be led by Brandon Miller, Kon Knueppel and Miles Bridges.

This article offers a closer look at Thursday's matchup, including an expanded look at the predicted score, best bets and player prop picks.

Hornets vs. Magic prediction: Who will win and cover?

Using powerful machine learning and data, we have simulated the result of Thursday's NBA matchup between the Hornets and Magic 10,000 times as part of our NBA predictions coverage.

Our leading predictive model gives the Magic a 63% chance of defeating the Hornets. Our predicted final score has the Magic winning 114-110.

According to our model, the Magic (-4) have a 51% chance of covering the spread, while the over/under total of 224.5 points has a 51% chance of going over.

Hornets vs. Magic odds

We have researched the best NBA odds in America for this game, which are listed here:

Bet Type	Hornets	Magic
Spread	+4 (-114)	-4 (-106)
Moneyline	+140	-166
Total	o224.5 (-108)	u224.5 (-106)

All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.

Hornets vs. Magic picks and best bet

After matching our probabilities against the best current odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:

Bet Type	Pick	Bet Now
Spread	Magic -4	-106
Moneyline	Magic	-166
Total	Over 224.5	-108

According to our best NBA bets for Thursday, the top play to make on this game is Magic to win.

Hornets vs. Magic player props

NBA player props are a great way to wager on the Hornets vs. Magic matchup without necessarily betting on the outcome. We use the best information available to project how each team's leading players will perform at Kia Center.

Brandon Miller is expected to lead the Hornets with 22 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists, while Paolo Banchero is projected to have 25 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists for the Magic.

Check out our NBA player projections for a full range of projected box scores, including points, assists, rebounds and today's NBA first basket picks.

Hornets prediction

Our model's projected player stats for the Hornets are:

Player	PTS	REB	AST	3PM	DFS
Brandon Miller	22	5	3	3	41
Kon Knueppel	20	5	3	3	36
Miles Bridges	19	6	3	2	36
LaMelo Ball	18	4	6	3	39
Collin Sexton	12	2	3	1	23

Magic prediction

Projected points, rebounds, assists and three-pointers made for the Magic:

Player	PTS	REB	AST	3PM	DFS
Paolo Banchero	25	8	6	2	50
Anthony Black	20	5	5	2	38
Desmond Bane	19	5	5	2	38
Wendell Carter	12	7	2	2	29
T. da Silva	10	3	1	1	19

Hornets vs. Magic game-day updates and essential details

Thursday's action between the Magic and Hornets at Kia Center is scheduled to begin at 7:00 PM ET.

• Who: Charlotte Hornets vs. Orlando Magic
• Date: Thursday, January 22, 2026
• Time: 7:00 PM ET/4:00PM PT
• Venue: Kia Center

Conclusion

We predict the Magic, with a 63% win probability, will likely beat the Hornets on Thursday, with Paolo Banchero projected for a game-high 50 fantasy points.

AI and automation have enhanced this article to quickly deliver accurate Hornets vs. Magic insights, with human oversight ensuring high editorial quality. Our predictions are based on up-to-date data to help you make informed decisions. For additional resources and advice on responsible gambling, please call 1-800-GAMBLER.

Note: Clicking links to our partners may earn us a referral fee. Learn about how we review products and services.