ORLANDO, Fla. — LaMelo Ball had 22 points and seven rebounds, and the Charlotte Hornets beat the Orlando Magic 120-105 on Friday night after losing rookie forward Kon Knueppel to a right ankle injury in the first half.
Miles Bridges had 16 points and 11 rebounds for the Hornets and Moussa Diabate added 10 points and 13 rebounds. Charlotte shot 19 for 39 (48.7%) from 3-point range and led by 24 points in the fourth quarter.
Anthony Black led Orlando with 24 points. Desmond Bane added 15 points and 10 rebounds, and Wendell Carter Jr. had 16 points and eight rebounds.
The Hornets had a 57-48 lead in the final seconds of the first half when Knueppel, who ranks second among NBA rookies in scoring and 3-point shooting, went down with the injury. He had scored 16 points, all in the first quarter, while making all four of his 3-point shots. Hornets coach Charles Lee said X-rays on Knueppel’s ankle were negative and he would be evaluated again when the team returns to Charlotte.
Three 3-pointers by Collin Sexton late in the third quarter helped the Hornets stretch a 16-point lead to 24.
Led by Diabate, Bridges and Tidjane Salaun, the Hornets had a 53-42 rebound edge in winning for the fourth time in six games.
The Magic, who have lost four of six after winning in the quarterfinals of the NBA Cup, played without injured starters Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs,
Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges (0) passes the ball as Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) defend during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 26, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. Credit: AP/John Raoux
Up next
Hornets: Play at Milwaukee on Monday night.
Magic: Play at home against Denver on Saturday night.
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