National Basketball Association
Charlotte 125, Orlando 100
When: 6:00 PM ET, Monday, December 31, 2018
Where: Spectrum Center, Charlotte, North Carolina
Officials: #19 James Capers, #38 Michael Smith, #76 Natalie Sago
Attendance: 14694

Kemba Walker scored 24 points in less than three quarters of action, and the host Charlotte Hornets continued their mastery over the Orlando Magic with a 125-100 victory on Monday night.

Walker followed up a 47-point performance in a loss at Washington on Saturday with another superb effort. He was 10 of 16 from the field with two 3-pointers. He scored 20 in the first half, then sat out the entire fourth quarter as the Hornets turned the game into a rout.

The Hornets have now won 13 straight over the Magic over the past four seasons, and they got their first win over former coach Steve Clifford. Clifford went to the Magic this season after coaching the Hornets the past five seasons.

It was a costly win for the Hornets, however. Jeremy Lamb left the game with a strained hamstring late in the first quarter and did not return, and Cody Zeller suffered a fractured right hand early in the third quarter and did not return.

The Hornets also got 21 points from Malik Monk. Zeller scored 14 and Marvin Williams, Willy Hernangomez and Devonte Graham scored 10 each.

The Magic were led by Aaron Gordon with 14 points. Nikola Vucevic scored 12, Jonathan Isaac 11 and Terrence Ross 10.

The Magic, who were starting a six-game road trip, played without injured regulars D.J. Augustin and Jonathan Simmons. Both players are nursing ankle injuries.

The Magic scored the first seven points of the game and led by 10 early. But the Hornets regrouped and dominated most of the quarter, leading 36-23 after one. The Hornets then led 63-53 at halftime and pushed the lead up to 18 at 95-77 after three quarters. The Hornets led by as many as 35 in the fourth quarter.

The Hornets will host Dallas on Wednesday, while the Magic will travel to Chicago.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Orlando   Charlotte
Aaron Gordon 14 Scoring Kemba Walker 24
Aaron Gordon 5 Assists Kemba Walker 7
Mo Bamba 12 Rebounds Willy Hernangomez 8
Khem Birch 4 Free Throws Made Cody Zeller 8
Khem Birch 1 Steals Devonte' Graham 3
Mo Bamba 2 Blocks Malik Monk 1
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Orlando 100 41.3 10-35 14-19 22 48 5 6 12
Charlotte 125 49.4 11-24 30-33 29 46 1 8 8
Upcoming Games
  • Charlotte will play their next game at home against Dallas. The Hornets have a W/L % of .389 after a win and .611 after a loss.
  • Orlando will play their next game on the road against Chicago. The Magic have a W/L % of .438 after a win and .450 after a loss.