Orlando @ Charlotte preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 10, 2019 ) Orlando 122, Charlotte 114

The Orlando Magic have struggled to sustain their top form this season despite holding a playoff position and look to respond to a pair of losses when they complete a six-game road trip against the struggling Charlotte Hornets on Monday night. The Magic beat the Western Conference-leading Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday before dropping games against the Los Angeles Clippers and West cellar dweller Golden State.

Orlando forward Aaron Gordon said his starting unit played “soft” against the Warriors in Saturday’s 109-95 loss and leading scorer Nikola Vucevic told reporters: “We all have to look at ourselves and be better. It was so obvious what happened out there, and we just have to be better and that’s it.” The Magic, who are seventh in the Eastern Conference, averaged 124.5 points in winning the last two matchups with Charlotte last season and hope to take advantage of a team that has lost six straight games after suffering a 100-86 defeat at Denver on Wednesday. The Hornets are 29th in the league in scoring (103.8) and come home - where they are 7-13 - after losing all four games on a road trip while averaging 95.5 points, but will be well rested and are trying to stay positive. “It was a tough road trip for us, some tough games,” Charlotte forward Cody Zeller told reporters. “I thought we played well in spurts.”

TIME: 5 p.m. ET. TV: FS Florida, FS Southeast

ABOUT THE MAGIC (20-23): Guard Evan Fournier leads the team in scoring (18.9) and continues to put up points despite shooting under 40 percent from the field in the past four contests. Vucevic (18.7 points, team-high 11.2 rebounds) boasts double-doubles in seven of 10 outings this month while Gordon has contributed 17.8 over the last four, but was held to 11 last time out. Markelle Fultz scored 23 versus Golden State and is averaging 17.8 over the past four contests with fellow point guard D.J. Augustin (10.7 points, team-high 4.7 assists) missing four of the past five games due to a bruised knee.

ABOUT THE HORNETS (15-29): Guard Terry Rozier led the way offensively this month for Charlotte, scoring at least 20 in seven of eight games and averaging 23.4 to boost his season mark to 18.3. Backcourt mate Devonte’ Graham leads the team in scoring (18.7) along with assists (7.7) and averaged 21 points over the past three contests while rookie forward PJ Washington poured in a total of 34 in his last two outings. Forward Miles Bridges scores 12.3 points per contest and Zeller chips in 11.5 to go along with a team-best seven rebounds, but had just six boards combined the past two games.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Charlotte G Malik Monk, picked 11th in the 2017 draft, is averaging just three points this month.

2. Orlando G Terrence Ross is shooting 31.6 from 3-point range this month after connecting on 38.3 in December.

3. The Magic entered Sunday first in the league in scoring defense (104.4) and the Hornets are 16th (110.6).

PREDICTION: Magic 110, Hornets 102