Hornets vs. Magic odds, prediction, spread, time: 2026 NBA picks for Thursday, January 22 from proven model

The Charlotte Hornets battle the Orlando Magic in a key NBA Southeast Division matchup on Thursday night. Charlotte is coming off a 94-87 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday, while Orlando dropped a 126-109 decision to the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday. The Hornets (16-28), who are fourth in the division, are 9-15 on the road this season. The Magic (23-19), first in the Southeast, are 13-6 on their home floor. Charlotte will be without Mason Plumlee (groin), while Jalen Suggs (knee) and Franz Wagner (ankle) are out for Orlando.

Tip-off from Kia Center in Orlando, Fla., is set for 7 p.m. ET. The Magic lead the all-time series 67-61, and have won five of the last six meetings. Orlando is a 4.5-point favorite in the latest Hornets vs. Magic odds from DraftKings Sportsbook, while the over/under for total points scored is 223.5. Before making any Hornets vs. Magic picks, check out the NBA predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.

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The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in betting profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past eight-plus seasons. The model enters Week 14 of the 2025-26 NBA season on a sizzling 35-15 roll on top-rated NBA spread picks dating back to last season. Anyone following its NBA betting advice at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen huge returns.   

Now, the model has simulated Hornets vs. Magic 10,000 times and just revealed its coveted NBA picks and betting predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are several NBA odds and NBA betting lines for Magic vs. Hornets:

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How to make Hornets vs. Magic picks

SportsLine's model is going Over on the total (223.5 points). The total has gone Over in four of the past six Charlotte games, and in each of the last three Orlando games. The Hornets are 6-4 against the spread in their last 10 games, while the Magic are 3-7 ATS in their last 10. The SportsLine model is projecting Charlotte's LaMelo Ball to score 19.9 points on average and be one of five Hornets players to score 12.9 or more points. Orlando's Paolo Banchero, meanwhile, is projected to have 22 points as six Magic players score 10.8 points or more.

It has also generated an against-the-spread pick that hits in nearly 70% of simulations. You can head to SportsLine to see the model's NBA picks. 

So who wins Magic vs. Hornets, and which side of the spread hits nearly 70% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Hornets vs. Magic spread to back, all from the model that has returned well over $10,000 on top-rated NBA picks, and find out.