Hornets Extra: Magic 102, Hornets 94

102

94

To sum up last night's performance by the Charlotte Hornets in their home game against the Orlando Magic, it would be a tale of a team that has decided to quit on themselves for most of the night, while the other would be a tale of a player going beastmode.  It was that kind of night, as the Orlando Magic handed the Hornets their second straight loss witha 102-94 win over Charlotte.

Despite the loss, it would be a career/record setting night for Kemba Walker, as he would lead all game scorers with 42 points, including a record-setting 35 point performance in the second half, setting a Charlotte NBA record for most points in a half surpassing the 28 point point scoring totals in a half that were set by former Hornets Kelly Tripucka(28 vs. IND on 12/14/1988) and twice by Glen Rice(First vs. PHX on 2/19/1997 and again vs. MIA 1/2/1998).

Head Coach Steve Clifford wasn't pleased with his team's effort in the loss, which dropped Charlotte to 10-21, but he did praise Kemba for keeping his team in the game.  "He can be a cornerstone player for teams that go deep into the playoffs because of his competitiveness. He has just a competitive spirit that is contagious to me." Clifford said.

"I had a career night, a great game but it just wasn't enough. Our problem wasn't offensively, it was defensively." Walker said.  The defensive game doomed Charlotte big time, turning the ball over 10 times, and allowing Orlando to take advantage and opening the door for Nikola Vucevic to lead the way for the Magic with 22 points to go with 11 rebounds in last night's win.

Orlando also saw Tobias Harris join in with 21 points, while Victor Oladipo helped out the cause with 13 on the night for the Magic, who shot 45.8% from the field, despite being out-rebounded by the Hornets by a plus-1 margin(41-40).  Walker did indeed led all game scorers with a season-high 42 point outburst, while Al Jefferson had 14 points for Charlotte in the loss.

Charlotte hopes to bounce back from two tough losses and to get back into the win column on Monday night at Time Warner Cable Arena, as they take on the Milwaukee Bucks at 7:10 p.m., before hitting the road to wrap up 2014 in Houston against the Rockets on Wednesday.

Hornets Extra: Magic vs. Hornets

Orlando Magic(5-8; 0-2 in Southeast Division play) vs. Charlotte Hornets(4-8; 2-0 in Southeast Division play)

Time Warner Cable Arena

Friday, 7:00 p.m.

Television: SportSouth

Radio: WFNZ-AM(610 The Fan)

Series history(since 1989-90 season): ORL leads series 47-38

The struggling Charlotte Hornets find themselves sitting in last place in the Southeast Division, as they enter Friday night's match-up with the Orlando Magic at "The Hive".  The Hornets are coming off a heartbreaking loss on Wednesday night in Indianapolis, losing to the Pacers on a buzzer-beater from Solomon Hill to give Indiana a 88-86 win over Charlotte, while the Magic is coming off a 114-90 loss at the hands of the Los Angeles Clippers last night at the Amway Center in Orlando.

Scouting the Magic

The Orlando Magic is entering this game after a tough go of it against Blake Griffin, Chris Paul, and the Los Angeles Clippers, as they defeated Orlando by 24 points in last night's game at the Amway Center.  One of the players to keep our eye on for the Magic in Friday's game at Charlotte are Vic Oladipo, and Nikola Vucevic, they can totally put on a show when they hit the floor for the Magic, and Jacque Vaughn hopes his team can bounce back and get a win on Friday night, when the Magic squares off against a struggling Hornets team that is searching for an identity in their struggles as well.

Scouting the Hornets

The Charlotte Hornets come into Friday's game in last place in the Southeast Division after a heartbreaking 88-86 loss on the road last night against the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis. Charlotte's currently on a 3-game losing skid, as they are still without Gary Neal, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, and P.J. Hairston, but we don't know if either of those players will be available for Friday's game at "The Hive" as they welcome in the Orlando Magic to town.

Hornets to host "Classic Night" for Friday's game

Friday's game has been designated as the first of many "Classic Hornets Nights" this season, as the Hornets will have special in-game elements throughout the night, as well as looking back at some memorable moments from the team's original run in Charlotte(1988-2002).  Fans are encouraged to wear their vintage Hornets gear from that era to the game as part of the occasion, and a certain high-flying dunker will make his triumphant return to Charlotte as part of the Hornets "Classic Night" celebration, but we can't tell you who it is.  The only way to find out is to be there at "The Hive" for tomorrow's game. This comes off the heels of last season's "Buzz City Nights", which was wildly popular for both the fans and the organization during the run-up to the official return of the Hornets name to Charlotte.

Next 4 games for the Hornets(Home games in Purple, Road games in Teal)

Sunday: Charlotte @ Miami Heat*(6:00 p.m.)
Monday: L.A. Clippers vs. Charlotte(7:00 p.m.)
Wednesday: Portland Trail Blazers vs. Charlotte(7:00 p.m.)
Next Friday: Golden State Warriors vs. Charlotte(7:00 p.m.)
*-Southeast Division game

NOTES: All SportSouth telecasts begin with "Hornets Live" 30 minutes before tip-off; All Hornets games can be heard locally on flagship station WFNZ-AM (610 The Fan) and throughout the Carolinas on the Hornets Radio Network.